Judy Chu Wins Solis' Congressional Seat
A small turnout of voters made the Democrat the first Chinese-American woman elected to serve in Congress. President Obama called her with congratulations, the White House said Wednesday.
The predicted low turnout came to pass, but California Board of Equalization member Judy Chu, a Democrat, defeated Monterey Park City Councilmember Betty Chu, a Republican, by a 2-1 margin in Tuesday's special election to fill the remainder of U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis' term representing California's 32nd Congressional District.
The San Gabriel Valley Tribune reported Judy Chu won 61.7 percent of the votes cast, while Betty Chu won 33.1 percent and Libertarian Christopher Agrella received 5.2 percent.
President Barack Obama called Judy Chu on Wednesday to congratulate her on becoming the first Chinese-American woman elected to serve in Congress. Obama told her he looks forward to working with her to reform the U.S. health care system, according to a White House news release. Judy Chu told reporters Tuesday night that she will fly to Washington, D.C., to be sworn into office on July 16.
Judy Chu received the highest number of votes, 17,661, in the primary, but that was not enough to win the seat outright. Betty Chu received 5,648 votes in the primary to lead the Republican candidates.