Judy Chu Wins, Setting Up
Runoff in 32nd District Race
GWEN MURANAKA
RAFU ENGLISH EDITOR IN CHIEF
Saturday, May 23, 2009

Betty Chu

Judy Chu celebrates her victory on Tuesday night at Nick’s Taste of Texin Covina in the runoff election for the 32nd Congressional district.

Judy Chu

“There are two Chus in this election, it’s almost like a divorce case,” quipped Betty Chu, the day after she was the top Republican vote-getter, setting up a July14 runoff between her and Judy Chu, vice chair of the State Board of Equalization.

Now there are two Chinese American women vying for the 32nd district seat in Congress as the two Chus (no relation) were the top vote-getters for their respective parties in Tuesday’s race to succeed Labor Secretary Hilda Solis in Congress.

Judy Chu topped a field of 12 candidates Tuesday, with 31.97 percent of the vote making her the favorite to claim the seat. Democrats hold a more than 2-1 registration edge in the district. Betty Chu, a Monterey Park councilmember, received 10.41 percent of the vote. State Senator Gil Cedillo received 23.4 percent.

“It was our message, we didn’t deviate from our message and kept on with our plan, which was to emphasize that I was San Gabriel Valley’s own. I was part and parcel of the district and had deep roots here and had the fiscal experience and therefore was the best person,” Judy Chu said in an interview with The Rafu Shimpo.

Before the election, the media had defined the race as between the district’s Asian and Latino constituencies. Chu refuted that characterization.

“They were defining this race only in terms of demographics. We determined this race as who is the best person for the job.”

“I am honored that the voters their confidence in me, it was a great diversity of voters that cast their vote for me,” said Chu.

The day after the election, Betty Chu spoke at the annual Heritage Day for the Los Angeles County Asian American Employees Association. “When I first started out, there were no Chinese women attorneys. When I started out, there was no Chinese savings bank. Chinese could not even get a loan because they couldn’t get a loan application; they did not have the privilege of being denied a loan. So you see, we have come a long way, but there’s a long way to go,” Chu said.

The winner on July 14 would become California’s third Asian American in  Congress, joining Reps. Mike Honda (D-San Jose) and Doris Matsui (D-Sacramento).

“I offer my heartfelt congratulations to my dear friend, Judy Chu. Secretary Hilda Solis left big shoes to fill, and I have every belief that Judy will do a superb job representing San Gabriel Valley,” Honda said.

Because no candidate cleared a majority, the top finishers in each party advance to a July 14 runoff.

The 32nd Congressional District seat had been in Hispanic hands since the 1980s. It was held by Solis until she resigned to become President Barack Obama’s labor secretary.