Aisha Wahab

Aisha Wahab was born in New York, New York, and lives in Hayward, California.[1] Wahab graduated from Kennedy High School in Fremont, Calif. She earned a B.A. in political science from San Jose State University, an MBA from California State University, East Bay, and a Ph.D. from the University of Southern California.[2][3] Wahab's career experience includes working as an information technology (IT) manager, IT business consultant, and senior management analyst in finance.[4]

Wahab volunteered as an associate member for the Alameda County Democratic Central Committee and as a board member of the Afghan Coalition, Tri-City Volunteers, and Adobe Services. She served as the chair of the Human Relations Commission and as co-director of Little Kabul Stories. Wahab also helped found the President's Advisory Council of the American University of Afghanistan. She was elected to serve on the City of Hayward City Council in 2018 and became mayor pro tempore in 2020.[4]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I proudly serve as California State Senator and Assistant Majority Leader, representing the heart of the Bay Area and Silicon Valley.

My story is the American Dream: from foster care to the State Capitol, shaped by hardship, resilience, and service. Before I could tie my shoes, my father was murdered and my mother passed away. Adopted by a hardworking Fremont family, I learned early that every person deserves safety, dignity, and a fair shot.

During the Great Recession, my family lost our home and small business. I was laid off, priced out, and forced to rebuild. I worked full-time through school, earned a B.A., MBA, and Doctorate in Social Work, and built a career managing teams and multi-million-dollar contracts.

In 2018, I became the first Afghan American woman elected to public office in U.S. history. In Hayward, I helped expand affordable housing, strengthen renter protections, raise wages, support small businesses, reduce homelessness, and improve public safety.

In 2022, I became the first Afghan American elected to the California Legislature.

Today, I fight to lower costs, protect healthcare, build affordable housing, keep communities safe, defend civil rights, and make government work for working people — not billionaires, corporations, or special interests.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Make life affordable again. I will fight to lower the cost of housing, healthcare, childcare, groceries, gas, and utilities so working families, seniors, and young people can breathe again.Protect our freedoms and keep communities safe. I will defend democracy, women’s rights, civil rights, and immigrant families while supporting victim-first public safety that holds violent, repeat, and organized offenders accountable.Put working people over powerful interests. I will take on billionaires, corporate price-gougers, Wall Street landlords, and special interests so government works for the people who work hard, play by the rules, and deserve a fair shot.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I'm passionate about policies that protect people’s humanity and restore the American Dream.

That starts with housing — because no one can build a stable life without a safe, affordable home. I know what it feels like to lose housing and be priced out, & I will fight to expand affordable housing, protect renters, & create real pathways to homeownership.

I'm committed to social services and safety nets that help people through crisis — children in foster care, seniors, people with disabilities, working families, survivors, and those experiencing homelessness.

Government should help people get back on their feet, not leave them behind; I'll build a country where hard work means dignity, stability, and a fair shot at the American Dream.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

California Democratic Party

Labor endorsements: SEIU, CA Labor Federation, Building Trades, UFW, LiUNA, Operating Engineers, Carpenters, Sheetmetal Workers.

Healthcare workers: National Nurses United, National Union of Healthcare Workers, Resident Doctors.

Congressional Progressive Caucus, Courage California, Equality California, Our Revolution, Indivisible, East Bay Stonewall Democrats, Hayward Area Democratic Club.

Trusted statewide Democrats:

Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, Attorney General Rob Bonta, Treasurer Fiona Ma, Controller Malia Cohen, Senate Pro Tem Monique Limón, Mike McGuire.

Local leaders in the district — Hayward, Fremont, Dublin, Union City, Livermore, Pleasanton and more.

Video for [the profile publisher]

Video submitted to BallotpediaReleased April 2, 2022

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Tragedy struck my family – cutting short their American Dream. My father was brutally murdered, a case that remains unsolved. I was placed in foster care before I could tie my own shoes. In every family culture, and language I lived with, I witnessed the same desire for an opportunity to succeed and provide for their family. Luckily, adopted and raised in this district, my family taught me the value of hard work, perseverance, and community service. I worked full time, paid my own way through school, and supported my aging parents. Sadly, the Great Recession led to my family’s small business tanking and my home being foreclosed.

Like many Californians, I know what it’s like to be squeezed by housing costs, healthcare premiums, and student loan debt. I ran for office to tackle the real problems we face. On City Council, I’ve increased wages, affordable housing, and implemented commonsense policies that improved public safety, homelessness, and our environment. I’m running for State Senate to get Sacramento back to basics: food on the table, a roof overhead, well-paying jobs, quality public education, and a future we can all believe in. I’d be honored to have your vote for State Senate.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Housing At All Income LevelsSupporting Small Businesses That Create Local JobsProtecting the Environment & Combating Climate Change

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Housing Affordability - I will pass laws to ensure that we make building housing at all income levels a priority, and I will make homeownership more affordable for fellow millennials and all generations by implementing down-payment assistance programs.

Income inequality and opportunity inequality continue to cripple the entire Bay Area. The divide between the haves and the have-nots is growing, and this will have severe consequences for our businesses, schools, and livelihoods. I will support policies that bridge this divide by raising wages and creating jobs that provide a living wage and stable benefits so that families are not priced out of the region. I’ll also work to expand support like affordable child care and paid leave. I’ll fight to ensure all children have the same opportunity to succeed by supporting educational programs that help our most vulnerable students.

Protecting the environment and combating climate change are perhaps the greatest global crises as we approach the tipping point to stop climate change. We must reduce greenhouse gasses and transition to a green economy. We must also address the consequences of the drought with water conservation, and work for cleaner air and water around our state.

Aisha Wahab did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2020 Candidate Connection survey.