Chu Celebrates Win As Liu, Napolitano and Holden Take Leads

Veteran Congresswoman Judy Chu won another term--this time in a new district--after taking a commanding lead in preliminary voting tallies Wednesday morning.

Chu (D-El Monte), the incumbent in the now-defunct 32nd Congressional District, took in 61 percent of the vote in the race for the newly created 27th Congressional district with more than 40 percent of precincts reporting.

"For 27 years, I have been privileged to serve the San Gabriel Valley in elected office," according to a statement released by Chu's campaign early Wednesday. "(Tuesday) voters from this region placed their trust in me again. I will honor that trust by fighting for their needs each and every day in Congress. While my district has changed, my commitment to serve the people and my core values remain the same.

"I represented the cities of the 27th District while serving in the State Assembly and the Board of Equalization, and am excited to now represent them in Congress," the statement continues. "It has been a privilege to fight for the needs of the 32nd District over the past three years, and residents can count on me to continue my efforts to strengthen the entire San Gabriel Valley."

Chu's opponent, first-time political candidate and small business owner Jack Orswell (R-Monrovia), was resigned to defeat Wednesday morning.

"Obviously I'm not happy with the results but you have to accept what the voters did," Orswell said in a phone interview. "I'm real proud of the campaign."

Orswell said he has not yet decided whether he'll make another run at office.

"Right now I'm pretty tired as a result of the campaign and tonight is not the time to be making the decision," he said. "Give me 18 months to think about it."

As for the 25th State Senate race, Carol Liu, D-La Cañada, held a significant lead over challenger Gilbert Gonzales. By 12:30 a.m., Liu had garned 61 percent of the vote, while Gonzales had earned 39 percent with 39 percent of precincts reporting. 

And in the newly redrawn 41st Assembly District, Pasadena City Councilman Chris Holden pulled in 61 percent to Claremont Councilwoman Donna Lowe's 38 percent, with 48 percent of precincts reporting.

Deep disappointment was evident on faces in the crowd at Lowe's campaign party in her Claremont home when the presidential race was called in favor of President Barack Obama. 

"We don’t have anything to be proud of right now except for our weather. People are fleeing our state. We have unemployment rates that are skyrocketing. You have families that are living hand-to-mouth. And that’s not OK,'' Lowe said. 

Conversely, Holden had plenty to be proud of.

"I'm grateful for all of you believing in me,'' he said from the Pasadena Democratic Headquarters' victory party at Burger Continental, noting that the Democrats - from the president to the senators to the assembly members - have many reasons to celebrate.

Congresswoman Grace Napolitano led by a commanding margin in the race for the 32nd Congressional District, which will serve La Verne, taking in 66 percent of the vote to challenger David Miller's (R-Glendora) 33.5 percent with 66 percent of precincts reporting. Napolitano, who serves in the now re-ordered 38th Congressional district, did not return a call requesting comment.