Chu, Liu, Holden Will Represent Pasadena in State, Congress

Incumbents managed to ward off any upsets in Tuesday's elections and Pasadena stands to gain two new elected representatives thanks to statewide redistricting.

Veteran Congresswoman Judy Chu is headed for a second term--this time in a new district--after soundly defeating challenger Jack Orswell (R-Monrovia), according to election results.  She will represent most of Pasadena, while a small section in the Linda Vista area will still be represented by Rep Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) who was reelected last night in a newly-drawn neighboring district.

Chu (D-El Monte), the incumbent in the now-defunct 32nd Congressional District, took in 65 percent of the vote in the race for the newly created 27th Congressional district with 100 percent of precincts reporting.

"For 27 years, I have been privileged to serve the San Gabriel Valley in elected office," Chu said in a prepared statement. "Tonight, 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."

Orswell, a small business owner and first-time political candidate, 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 aboutt it."

In the 25th State Senate race, Carol Liu, D-La Cañada, built a significant lead over challenger Gilbert Gonzales early and held on to win by double digits. By 12:30 a.m., Liu had garned 62 percent of the vote, while Gonzales had earned 38 percent with all precincts reporting. 

And in the newly redrawn 41st Assembly District, Pasadena City Councilman Chris Holden pulled in 62 percent to Claremont Councilwoman Donna Lowe's 38 percent, with 100 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.