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If any candidate receives over 50% of the vote, they will win
outright and serve out the remainder of Swalwell's term through
January. If not, the top two from the field of Democratic and
Republican candidates will move on to an Aug. 18 runoff.
Among the 11 names on the ballot are Democrats Aisha Wahab, a
state senator who focused her campaign message on reducing
housing costs, and Melissa Hernandez, a Bay Area Rapid Transit
director and former mayor of the East Bay city of Dublin.
Republicans in the race include Wendy Huang, a real estate
investor, and Dena Maldonado, who runs a small flower business.
Separate from the special election, a regular primary was held
June 2 for a full term to the seat beginning in January, with
many of the same candidates who are on Tuesday's ballot.
Wahab and Hernandez were the top two vote-getters June 2 and
advanced to the general election in November. If one of them
comes out on top in the special election, their hope is that
serving in the office for a few months this summer and fall
could provide a boost in visibility and some job experience they
can tout as they campaign for the full term.
Another Democrat who ran in the statewide primary but who failed
to crack the top two, attorney and businesswoman Rakhi Israni
Singh, is on Tuesday's ballot seeking to fill the remainder of
Swalwell's term.
Swalwell held the seat for seven terms before resigning in April
— and also dropping out of this year's governor’s race — after
the San Francisco Chronicle reported allegations that he
sexually assaulted a woman twice, including when she worked for
him.
CNN later reported that other women accused him of sending
inappropriate messages and nude photos.
Swalwell has repeatedly denied the accusations but said it would
be unfair to his constituents to remain in Congress.
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