U.S. House, California 28th Congressional District · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in California's 28th Congressional District?
Judy Chu has the strongest record in California's 28th Congressional District. Judy Chu scores 65 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of April A. Verlato at 56, as of October 9, 2026. Judy Chu's highest marks are relevant experience and roots in the constituency. April A. Verlato's highest marks are relevant experience and roots in the constituency. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Democratic · incumbent
Strongest record
Judy Chu
65 / 100
Public evidence on 13 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 56
- Qualifications
- 75
- Performance
- 63
Republican
April A. Verlato
56 / 100
Public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 60
- Performance
- NR
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Judy Chu
- Mark against2019-02-24
Filed a 2019 periodic transaction report listing options trades made Jan. 4 and Jan. 9, 2019, 51 and 46 days earlier; the STOCK Act deadline is 45 days.
- Mark against2014-12-11
The House Ethics Committee issued her a public letter of reproval for interfering with its investigation by contacting two staff members about it; it found no evidence she knew of staff campaign work. No fine.
Sources: House Report 113-665, Dec. 11, 2014, Roll Call, Dec. 11, 2014
- On the record2022-06-30
Arrested by Capitol Police with more than 180 protesters at an abortion rights sit-in near the Supreme Court; she was issued a citation and released about two hours later.
Sources: Fox LA (City News Service), June 30, 2022, NBC 6, June 30, 2022
- On the record2022-07-22
The House Ethics Committee reported on her June 30, 2022 protest arrest, noted she intended to pay a $50 fine, declined to open an investigative subcommittee and closed the matter.
- On the record2021-01-06
Voted Nay on the objections to Arizona's and Pennsylvania's certified electors.
Sources: House Clerk Roll Call 10, 2021, House Clerk Roll Call 11, 2021
- Credit2022
A bill she sponsored to ensure Medicare coverage of outpatient mental health services was enacted in the 117th Congress; GovTrack lists five enacted bills she sponsored.
Source: GovTrack, Judy Chu
- Credit2016
Her Harry Lew Military Hazing Accountability and Prevention Act was enacted in the 114th Congress.
Source: GovTrack, Judy Chu
April A. Verlato
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Judy Chu. Annual financial disclosure for 2025 filed May 14, 2026. A 2014 House Ethics reproval is more than 10 years old (E1). Several 2019 trade reports were filed one to six days past the deadline, on the Clerk record only.
Sources: House Clerk financial disclosure, Filing ID 10077247, FEC administrative fines search
April A. Verlato. FEC committee reports are on file through June 30, 2026, with no administrative fine; no State Bar discipline on record. No 2026 House candidate financial disclosure was found in the Clerk index (E23 hand check).
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search, State Bar of California, attorney profile #207451
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Judy Chu. Voted against her party's leaders several times in 2025 and 2026, among them the GENIUS Act, a motion to table an impeachment resolution, a FISA extension and a war powers resolution.
Sources: House Clerk Roll Call 200, 2025, GENIUS Act, House Clerk Roll Call 175, 2025, motion to table H.Res. 537, House Clerk Roll Call 155, 2026, FISA extension, House Clerk Roll Call 201, 2026, war powers resolution
April A. Verlato. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Judy Chu. No public record found.
April A. Verlato. No public record found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Judy Chu. Has held elected office since 1985, in Congress since 2009. A 2014 House Ethics letter of reproval for contacting staff during its investigation is more than 10 years old and is not scored (E1).
Sources: Wikipedia, Judy Chu, House Report 113-665, Dec. 11, 2014
April A. Verlato. Attorney licensed since 2000 with no State Bar discipline on record; Arcadia City Council member from 2016 and mayor beginning in 2020. No censure or conduct finding found.
Sources: State Bar of California, attorney profile #207451, Ballotpedia, April Verlato
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Judy Chu. Voted Nay on both January 6, 2021 objections to certified electors. Not on the Texas v. Pennsylvania amicus list and did not object in January 2017. No misuse-of-office finding found.
Sources: House Clerk Roll Call 10, Jan. 6, 2021, House Clerk Roll Call 11, Jan. 7, 2021
April A. Verlato. Held sworn city office on the Arcadia City Council and took the attorney's oath; no misuse-of-office finding found.
Sources: Ballotpedia, April Verlato, State Bar of California, attorney profile #207451
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Judy Chu. In the U.S. House since July 2009; earlier served in the California Assembly, on the State Board of Equalization and as mayor of Monterey Park.
Sources: GovTrack, Judy Chu, Wikipedia, Judy Chu
April A. Verlato. Served on the Arcadia City Council from 2016, including as mayor beginning in 2020; attorney with her own law office since 2000.
Sources: Ballotpedia, April Verlato, State Bar of California, attorney profile #207451
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Judy Chu. Sits on Ways and Means (Health, Oversight, and Work and Welfare subcommittees) and the Budget Committee; publishes issue pages. No chair or ranking post.
Sources: GovTrack, committee membership, Office site, home page
April A. Verlato. Her 2024 campaign platform, quoted by Ballotpedia, stated positions in general terms, including a constitutional balanced budget amendment, tax cuts and energy independence. No 2026 issue page could be opened.
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Judy Chu. Offers an e-newsletter and publishes issue pages. No questionnaire answers or town halls found.
Source: Office site, home page
April A. Verlato. Published issue explanations on her 2024 campaign site; did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 or 2026 surveys.
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Judy Chu. Elected to the Monterey Park City Council in 1988 and served three terms as its mayor; Monterey Park is in the district. FEC by-state totals show about 93 percent of itemized individual contributions from California.
Sources: Wikipedia, Judy Chu, Wikipedia, California's 28th congressional district, FEC contribution totals by state, AB 604 city splits report (UC Berkeley Statewide Database, linked by the Senate Elections Committee)
April A. Verlato. Born and raised in Arcadia, where she practices law and served on the city council; Arcadia is in the district. Her committee reported no itemized individual contributions for 2025 to 2026.
Sources: Ballotpedia, April Verlato, Wikipedia, California's 28th congressional district, AB 604 city splits report (UC Berkeley Statewide Database, linked by the Senate Elections Committee)
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Judy Chu. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine record found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
April A. Verlato. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026, with no administrative fine; runs her own law office in Arcadia.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search, State Bar of California, attorney profile #207451
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Judy Chu. Legislative Effectiveness Score of 0.384 in the 118th Congress against a benchmark of 0.543, meets expectations (exceeds in the 117th). Primary sponsor of five enacted bills, including a 2022 Medicare mental health coverage law.
Sources: Center for Effective Lawmaking House dataset, 93rd to 118th Congress, GovTrack, enacted legislation
April A. Verlato. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Judy Chu. Missed 236 of 10,321 roll call votes, 2.3 percent, from July 2009 to September 2026.
Source: GovTrack, missed votes
April A. Verlato. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Judy Chu. Runs district offices in Pasadena and Claremont and offers help with federal agencies. No published casework totals found.
Source: Office site, home page
April A. Verlato. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Judy Chu. Lugar Center Bipartisan Index score of -0.67181 in the latest posted House scores (118th Congress, 2023), ranked 258 of 436.
Source: Lugar Center and McCourt School Bipartisan Index, House Scores
April A. Verlato. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Judy Chu. No public record found.
April A. Verlato. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 9, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in California's 28th Congressional District?
Judy Chu has the strongest record in California's 28th Congressional District. Judy Chu scores 65 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of April A. Verlato at 56, as of October 9, 2026. Judy Chu's highest marks are relevant experience and roots in the constituency. April A. Verlato's highest marks are relevant experience and roots in the constituency. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in California's 28th Congressional District in 2026?
Judy Chu (Democratic, incumbent), April A. Verlato (Republican). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Judy Chu a good candidate for Congress?
Judy Chu scores 65 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 13 of 15 criteria: character 56 of 100, qualifications 75 of 100, performance 63 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is April A. Verlato a good candidate for Congress?
April A. Verlato scores 56 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 60 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every California race scored, the trailing candidate's path to victory, and the California 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.