Judy Chu

Judy Chu is a Democratic politician serving as the U.S. Representative for California's 28th congressional district. She was first elected to Congress in a July 2009 special election, making history as the first Chinese American woman ever elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Chu earned her Bachelor of Arts in mathematics from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 1974 and later obtained a Ph.D. in psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology in 1979. Before entering politics, she spent 20 years as a faculty member and psychology professor at Los Angeles City College and East Los Angeles College. Her political career began at the local level, serving on the Garvey School District Board of Education from 1985 to 1988 and then on the Monterey Park City Council for 13 years, during which she served as mayor for three terms. She subsequently transitioned to state-level office, serving in the California State Assembly from 2001 to 2006 and on the California State Board of Equalization from 2007 until her election to Congress. Throughout her tenure, she has been a prominent leader within the Democratic caucus, notably serving as the Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC). In Congress, Chu has focused on civil rights, environmental preservation, and social justice. One of her major legislative accomplishments was the passage of a formal resolution of regret for the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. She was also instrumental in the designation of the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument and has worked to address military hazing through legislative reform. She currently serves on the House Ways and Means Committee and the House Budget Committee, where she advocates for policies affecting healthcare, Social Security, and small business growth.

Chu's policy positions align with the progressive wing of the Democratic Party. On healthcare, she is a staunch supporter of the Affordable Care Act and advocates for a woman's right to choose, having sponsored legislation to protect abortion access. Regarding the environment, she supports aggressive action to combat climate change, including ending reliance on fossil fuels and investing in clean energy technologies. Her immigration platform emphasizes comprehensive reform, including a pathway to citizenship for DACA recipients and efforts to modernize the family-based visa system through the Reuniting Families Act. On economic issues, she supports workers' rights, equal pay for women, and expanding paid family leave. In foreign policy, Chu advocates for robust foreign aid, supports the U.S.-Armenia relationship, and has called for a negotiated two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict while highlighting humanitarian concerns in Gaza.