Dr. Aisha Wahab proudly serves as the California State Senator & Assistant Majority Leader (representing Hayward, Fremont, Union City, Newark, Milpitas, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, San José, and unincorporated areas of Alameda and Santa Clara Counties). From foster care to the State Capitol, her story is the American Dream. Her life story is one of resilience and barrier-breaking leadership—driven by the belief that government must serve people, not the powerful.

Before she could even tie her shoes, her father was murdered and her mother passed away—leaving her in foster care. Like many, she suffered in silence, ignored and misunderstood. Adopted by a hardworking Fremont couple, she learned perseverance, service, and the American Dream.

During the Great Recession, her family lost their home and business and she was laid off and priced out of her hometown. Instead of giving up, Aisha stepped forward—advocating for renters, workers, and everyday families. Working full-time through school, she earned a B.A. in Political Science, an MBA, and received a Doctorate in Social Work from USC.

Before elected office, she built a career in service and technology—managing operations, leading large teams, and overseeing multi-million-dollar contracts—while also serving as Chair of the Alameda County Human Relations Commission, a Public Health Commissioner, and a nonprofit board member of for Abode Services, Tri-City Volunteers, and the Afghan Coalition. Her leadership has earned recognition as one of the Most Influential Women in Bay Area Business by the San Francisco Business Times and Legislator of the Year as both Councilmember and State Senator.

In 2018, the Bay Area made history by electing Aisha Wahab as the first Afghan American woman to public office in the United States, serving on the Hayward City Council and later as Mayor Pro Tempore. Dr. Wahab delivered measurable results: reducing homelessness by 22% in three years, expanding affordable housing and homeownership opportunities, strengthening rent stabilization, and improving accountability for renters. She championed a down-payment assistance program, transformed public safety with more training and mental health services, raised the minimum wage, streamlined permitting to attract new businesses, and made Hayward an “Education City”. During COVID-19, she led with the nation’s first free testing site and consistently expanded safety nets for seniors, women, and children.

In 2022, Aisha again broke barriers as the first Afghan American elected to the California State Legislature. Today, as State Senator, Assistant Majority Leader, and Chair of the Senate Housing Committee, she leads the fight for affordability, public safety, and an economy that works for everyone—not just the wealthy. She has championed first-in-the-nation civil rights protections, fought to stop Wall Street from buying homes, and demanded stable rates and accountability from utility and insurance companies.

Her fearless advocacy has made her a target of billionaires and powerful interests who have spent millions trying to discredit her and remove her from office. Yet, Senator Aisha Wahab continues to fight for housing affordability, civil rights, education, women’s rights, small businesses, public safety, and economic opportunity—she is redefining leadership: resilient, justice-driven, and, as Politico described, “famous for her no-nonsense style of lawmaking and willingness to ruffle feathers” in the fight for what’s right.