Left: former Congresswoman Hilda Solis, then-State Assemblywoman Judy Chu
Part of the pleasure of seeing former Congresswoman Hilda Solis appointed as Labor Secretary in the Obama administration is anticipating which worthy Democrat will then fill her seat in the 32d district.
This past weekend, Dr. Judy Chu, currently Vice Chair of the State Board of Equalization for Calfornia, emerged from a crowded field of 8 Democratic candidates (12 in all; 3 Republican, 1 Libertarian) to secure all 287 votes of California Democratic Party (CDP) members gathered.
The caucus was made up of representatives from the CDP who live in the 32d district, and the endorsement of Chu--above and beyond the presence of the other Democratic candidates also running for the seat--may prove to be what The Hill calls a "game-changer:"
So as the campaigns head toward the Democratic primary on May 19, the candidates are looking for any advantage. The primary is open to candidates from both parties, and if one candidate earns more than 50 percent, he or she takes the seat. If no candidate does, the top Democrat and Republican will face off in the general election on July 14 in this heavily Democratic district.
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A strong GOTV operation and the endorsement could be particularly important to Chu because the ethnic composition of the district works against her. While 18 percent of the Los Angeles district is Asian, 62 percent is Hispanic and may naturally back Cedillo.
As one of two top candidates with the longest records and best name recognition in the district, Chu has worked hard to remind voters of her work as mayor of one of the district's cities, Monterey Park, and of her service to the community when Chu was elected for three terms to represent the 49th State Assembly district. (The 49th state assembly district overlaps considerably with the 32d congressional district.) Wisely, she's positioned herself as the fiscally responsible and experienced candidate, emphasizing her authoring of a 2004 tax amnesty bill that brought in $4.3 bn (expected revenue, $300 m) to state budget coffers without raising taxes. She's an avowedly progressive, pro-choice candidate who's pledged to join the Progressive and Asian Pacific American caucuses in Congress; her record of service coupled with her deft navigation of state politics, fundraising capability, and legislative ability make her the frontrunner so far.
Chu's main opponent, Gil Cedillo, is popular with many members of the district given his championing of drivers licenses for undocumented immigrants. But recent reports in the LA Times of Cedillo's high-end dining bills and stays at luxury hotels and the appearance of augmenting his lifestyle with donations to his campaign have cast a shadow over his record.
Cedillo's spending, detailed in reports he filed with the secretary of state, contrasts with the frugal record of Judy Chu, his chief rival for the San Gabriel Valley congressional seat. A former Monterey Park assemblywoman elected to the state Board of Equalization in 2006, Chu has spent no campaign money on shopping or entertainment, and less than $5,000 on meals and travel over six years.
Currently Chu's campaign volunteers and endorsements reflect support from a multi-ethnic coalition consisting of leaders from labor, education, law enforcement, and city mayors/council members from across the 14-mile wide district. She's also gotten the endorsement of EMILY'S LIST, a national organization that helps fundraise for pro-choice Democratic women running for office. Given the broad base of support for Obama in our most recent presidential election, it'll be interesting to see if Chu's multi-ethnic coalition holds together on a smaller scale, or if subtle, but pervasive messaging along ethnic lines will carry the day.
Dr. Chu's prioritization of progressive policies and coalition-building over identity politics, plus a strong Get Out the Vote sidewalk campaign, might yet prevail--Latino voters inclined to cast ballots along ethnic lines have 1 Republican and at least 4 Democratic Latino candidates to choose from, thus possibly splitting their vote.
This is part 1 of a Run, Mama, Run series following Dr. Judy Chu's progress in the May 19 special election to fill the Congressional seat vacated by current Labor Secretary Hilda Solis. Come back for an interview and closer look at Dr. Chu's record and her stance on local, state, and national politics.
Cynematic blogs at P i l l o w b o o k.
Glad to see the Momocrats covering the Judy Chu campaign. I live in the district and went to an evening event . . . Coffee with Dr. Judy Chu. I was impressed by her experience and what she had to say. She has a great list of endorsements. It seemed like every local City Council is endorsing her candidacy. I was a very big Hilda Solis fan, and I am hoping Judy will be elected to take up the mantle.
Posted by: Geri Mitchell | May 03, 2009 at 05:59 PM
Geri, glad you're a reader local to the San Gabriel Valley! I do hope people recall Judy's long record of service as folks remember that they need to vote to fill this important position. Thanks for commenting.
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