As a Hayward City Council member, she positioned herself as the most progressive voice, pushing for a higher minimum wage, stronger renter protections, police de-escalation training, and other reforms through council referrals.

In 2022, Wahab expanded her footprint by winning the California State Senate seat for the 10th District, becoming the first Muslim and Afghan American elected to the California Senate after a hard-fought race against Fremont Mayor Lily Mei.

During her time in the Senate, she chaired the Public Safety Committee and advanced housing, foster youth, sexual assault survivors, and government accountability, including a notable 2023 push to ban caste discrimination in California that Governor Newsom vetoed.

Wahab’s political ascent began in 2018 with a bold bid for Hayward City Council, challenging incumbents on affordable housing, renter protections, and economic inequity while securing early fundraising momentum amid anti-Muslim attacks.

Wahab is set to be sworn into Congress, becoming the first Afghan American to serve in the U.S. House, representing California’s 14th District after winning a 2026 special election to finish former Representative Swalwell’s term.

Her 2026 bid attracted substantial outside spending but she nonetheless prevailed in the CA-14 special election, ultimately taking the oath of office in Washington, D.C., to begin her federal service.

Her eight-year rise is framed as a transition from insurgent local governance to a historic federal role, marked by a consistent advocacy-focused policy approach and cross-level political battles.