Who's In the Race

Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA) faces Republican April Verlato in the November 3 general election in California's 28th District. California uses a top-two primary, meaning the two highest vote-getters advance to the general election regardless of party. California's Proposition 50 redistricting maps take effect for the 2026 election, so voters will cast ballots in redrawn congressional districts. ​

Chu has represented the district since 2009, giving her at least 17 years in the seat heading into November. Verlato is an attorney and small-business owner who took over her father's law practice in 2000, served on the Arcadia City Council after her 2016 election, and was mayor from April 2019 to May 2020. In the June 2 top-two primary, Chu led with about 62 percent of the vote; Verlato finished second with about 32 percent, advancing both to the general.

What They Stand For

Chu has supported "aggressive action" on climate change, including reducing reliance on fossil fuels and investing in clean energy, according to her official House website. She has also supported protecting and expanding the Affordable Care Act and Medicare, and addressing prescription-drug costs, immigration reform, including pathways to citizenship for eligible DACA, Temporary Protected Status and Deferred Enforced Departure recipients, and expanding family-based visas, modernizing border technology and adding asylum agents while protecting due process for people seeking refuge, and fully funding education so schools, teachers and students have the resources they need.

Verlato has proposed promoting economic growth and supporting small businesses by creating conditions for good-paying jobs, according to her campaign website. She has also supported addressing homelessness through mental-health and substance-abuse treatment and reducing bureaucratic delays, stronger border security and support for law enforcement, citing threats including drug trafficking and terrorism, fiscal restraint, opposing tax increases and advocating limits on mandatory spending, and strengthening the military and expanding veterans' care, including more veteran clinics and a major medical center in the San Gabriel Valley.

The Money Behind the Race

Through June 30, Judy Chu had raised about $930,000 for the 2026 race, while April Verlato had raised $250, a gap of more than 3,700-to-1. Chu entered the general with about $3.67 million in cash on hand, more than $3.67 million more than Verlato's $205; that cash includes money carried over from earlier campaigns, since it far exceeds what she raised this cycle. Outside groups have spent about $16,610 supporting Chu, with Sierra Club Independent Action accounting for $10,000 and Planned Parenthood Advocates Pasadena and San Gabriel Valley PAC contributing $6,610; no outside money has been spent opposing Chu or targeting Verlato.

Race Outlook: Ratings and Betting Markets

Every major race-rating service calls this contest a safe hold for Democrats. Cook Political Report rated the race "Solid Democratic" as of Oct. 9; Sabato's Crystal Ball agreed, also rating it "Solid Democratic" as of Oct. 11; and Inside Elections rated it "Solid Democratic" as of Oct. 2. On Kalshi, traders gave Democrats a 94.88% chance of winning as of Oct. 15 while Republicans stood at 5.12%.

The district's recent history backs that picture. Chu won the 2022 general with about 66 percent of the vote and the 2024 general with about 65 percent, a dip of about 1.3 percentage points. Democrats won 40 of California's 52 U.S. House seats in 2022, and Republicans won 12. In the 2024 presidential race, Kamala Harris carried California with about 58 percent of the vote.

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