Judy Chu wins 32nd Congressional District race
By Rebecca Kimitch, Staff Writer
Posted: 07/14/2009 11:08:45 PM PDT
pasadenastarnews.com
Special Section Elections
With results in from all 32nd Congressional District precincts, Judy Chu defeated Betty Chu by a nearly 2-to-1 margin.
The Chus are cousins by marriage.
In a room at Nick's Taste of Texas in Covina packed with members of the Chinese-American media, Judy Chu claimed victory late Tuesday night.
"What a victory," said Chu, who is on the state Board of Equalization. "It's incredible to be standing here tonight."
She said she will fly to Washington, D.C., today and will be sworn in Thursday.
Judy Chu won 61.7 percent of the votes, Betty Chu won 33.1 percent, and Libertarian Christopher Agrella was in a distant third place with 5.2 percent.
Election officials believe a record-low number of voters showed up for the special election, which was held to replace former Rep. Hilda Solis, who left the seat to become labor secretary.
"I have never seen it this bad," said Cathy Carillo-Cox, a West Covina poll worker who has worked more than 40 elections.
Throughout the day, voters trickled into polls throughout the district, which includes East Los Angeles, Monterey Park, Rosemead, South El Monte, El Monte, Baldwin Park, West Covina, Azusa, Duarte and Covina.
Precinct inspector Eileen Miranda said it was disheartening to see such a low turnout.
"Everyone always talks about their rights, rights, rights, but when it comes to exercising those rights, no one comes out," she said.
More than 12,000 people voted by mail, about half of the expected total turnout.
West Covina resident Kevin Cheung, 21, was the lone voter in a room filled with poll workers on Tuesday morning.
"The election isn't over until the last vote is counted," Cheung said, after casting his
Left, Republican candidate Betty Tom Chu and, right, Libertarian candidate Christopher Argella.
ballot for Judy Chu.
Since the May primary, when Judy Chu defeated Gil Cedillo for the Democratic nomination, she has been considered the heavy favorite. Tuesday's vote counts mimicked voter registration in the district, in which Democrats outnumber Republicans more than 2 to 1.
Judy Chu rose through the ranks of local politics before landing a spot on the Board of Equalization. She started on the Garvey School District board, moved onto the Monterey Park City Council and then served in the Assembly.
Betty Chu is a Monterey Park councilwoman and retired attorney who founded East West Savings Bank and Trust Savings Bank.
"Of course I'm disappointed because I feel I had better qualifications and better answers to turn around the economy, but I wish her well," Betty Chu said after the results were final. "The best thing to happen is for her to succeed because if she succeeds, the whole community succeeds."
Agrella is a self-employed businessman in logistics and a former carpenter.
If Judy Chu prevails, she will be the first Chinese-American woman in Congress, and one of only a handful of Asian-Americans on Capitol Hill.
"Her election to Congress is a very important milestone for Asian-Americans," said Leland Saito, associate professor of sociology at USC and the author of "Race and Politics: Asian Americans, Latinos, and Whites in a Los Angeles Suburb," about the San Gabriel Valley.
Many election watchers questioned whether a Chinese-American could win in the district, which is 64 percent Latino and 21 percent Asian-American.
If Judy Chu does a good job, it could open up doors for more Asian-American politicians, according to Raphael Sonenshein, a professor of political science at Cal State Fullerton and expert in race relations.
"Allowing yourself to be led by someone different than you is a big step," he said. "When all the stuff you are worried about turns out to be irrelevant, it becomes like, `What was the big deal?"'
Some analysts call Judy Chu a rising star who would be an effective leader for the 32nd Congressional District.
"She is very well regarded. ... I think she will stand out," Sonenshein said.
Staff writer Jennifer McLain
contributed to this story.
rebecca.kimitch@sgvn.com |
