Posted on January 14, 2009

WCVI Profiles Newly-Vacated District

William C. Velasquez Institute, January 13, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE–January 13, 2009

Contact: Steven Ochoa, 323-222-2217

WCVI Profiles Newly-Vacated District

Seat Vacancy Created by Solis Appointment to Labor Secretary

LOS ANGELES, CA–A special election to fill the California 32 nd Congressional District will be held soon to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of U.S. Representative Hilda Solis (D). Solis was nominated Secretary of Labor by President-Elect Barack Obama in December 2008. The William C. Velasquez Institute (WCVI) prepared an updated voter profile for the public’s education as the special election approaches.

The San Gabriel Valley district has elected a Latino for almost 30 years. The district currently enjoys a 51% Latino voter registration percentage, according to recent voter data compiled by WCVI from Political Data. Asian voters also make up 16% of the voter registration. To date Senator Gil Cedillo of Los Angeles and State Board of Equalization Member Judy Chu of Monterey Park have shown interested in running for the seat. A special election is expected for March 2009. “Traditionally Latino voters have controlled this district, electing candidates of choice since 1982. As such, the 32 nd CD is protected as a majority minority seat by the voting rights act,” said WCVI President Antonio Gonzalez.

The 32 nd District comprises an important part of heavily Latino eastern Los Angeles County. It stretches west to east, from the East Los Angeles area through El Monte, Baldwin Park, and then West Covina. Some city registration figures are listed below:

Click here to download the complete regional, party, and ethnic breakdowns of registration and recent votes cast.

About WCVI

The William C. Velásquez Institute (WCVI) is a tax-exempt, non-profit, non-partisan public policy analysis organization chartered in 1985. The purpose of WCVI is to: conduct research aimed at improving the level of political and economic participation in Latino and other underrepresented communities; To provide information to Latino leaders relevant to the needs of their constituents; To inform the Latino leadership and public about the impact of public policies on Latinos; To inform the Latino leadership and public about political opinions and behavior of Latinos.

City (or Portion of City within District)

Total Reg

Latino Reg

Latino Reg %

Total Congressional District

241,749

122,893

50.8%

CITY OF AZUSA

16,277

8,053

49.5%

CITY OF BALDWIN PARK

25,237

17,488

69.3%

CITY OF COVINA

22,995

7,951

34.6%

CITY OF DUARTE

10,739

3,488

32.5%

CITY OF EL MONTE

31,170

17,148

55.0%

CITY OF IRWINDALE

833

682

81.9%

CITY OF MONTEREY PARK

16,469

5,651

34.3%

CITY OF ROSEMEAD

18,861

6,348

33.7%

CITY OF SOUTH EL MONTE

6,399

4,611

72.1%

CITY OF WEST COVINA

47,764

19,545

40.9%