Aisha Wahab

Before she could tie her own shoes, Aisha was placed in foster care after her father was brutally murdered, a case that remains unsolved, and her mother died at an early age.

Born in New York City to Afghan refugees who fled to the United States in pursuit of safety, Aisha was adopted by a family in Fremont, Aisha is one of the lucky few. Her family raised her with the values of hard work, perseverance, and community service. She grew up in Fremont, graduating from Kennedy High School, Ohlone College, received her B.A. from San Jose State University, and an MBA from CSU East Bay.

Like so many Californians, Aisha knows what it’s like to feel squeezed by housing costs, healthcare premiums, and student loan debt. Aisha ran for Hayward City Council in 2018 to upend the status quo and amplify the voices of seniors, women, children, and working families. She won her race and became the first Afghan-American woman elected to public office in the United States.

Aisha is running for State Senate because no one should have to get lucky to achieve the California dream. With investments in public education, a robust social safety net, and policies that support small businesses, that dream can be accessible to all of us.