[15] On January 7, the day before, Emanuel Pleitez, a 26-year-old member of the Barack Obama presidential transition team for the U.S. Treasury Department, had declared his intentions to run.

[17] Pleitez ran a more grassroots campaign, relying on a steady flow of volunteers and various individuals making any contribution to his efforts.

[19] By late January, Blanca Rubio, president of the Baldwin Park Unified School District Board of Education, also said she was running.

[2] The Republican who were candidates were former Covina mayor David Truax,[26] accountant Jim Hetzel,[27] and business owner Teresa Hernandez.

[28] As the only Libertarian Party candidate, Christopher Agrella, a businessman, was guaranteed to move on to any general election from the primary.

[12] Cedillo replied that he had a long association with the labor movement and that, "At the end of the day, people know me as a public servant who delivers and not as a politician.

"[15] Somewhat ironically, all of this campaign activity had taken place before there was any official vacancy in the seat, as Solis's confirmation process was being held up in the United States Senate.

[15] On February 24, 2009, the special election finally became a certainty, with Solis's long confirmation process coming to a successful close.

[2] Chu formally announced her candidacy on February 27, stating, "It occurred to me this seat would open, and who could carry on ... [Solis's] desire to represent the constituents?

[33] The first candidates' forum was held on March 19 in Cypress Park, Los Angeles, sponsored by the Southwest Voter Registration Education Project.

[35] A fellow of the Rose Institute of State and Local Government characterized the contest by saying: "When people talk about this race, there's Cedillo and Chu, then there's Pleitez, and then there's everybody else.

[43] Cedillo also put out a mailer against Pleitez that represented one of the first uses of in American politics of Facebook photographs for opposition research and negative campaigning.

[45] In the May 19 primary, Democrat Judy Chu led all candidates, but failed to gain enough to prevent a runoff general election.

[48] At a June 23 debate featuring the three candidates, the two Chus presented conflicting views on term limits, the Employee Free Choice Act, and universal health care.

[49] With the election looming, Judy Chu has actually downsized her headquarters, again signaling her confidence in winning the heavily democratic district.

[50] While Judy Chu was considered to be the clear front-runner, she said she was not taking anything for granted; much of her campaigning involved phone calls to voters and fundraising.

Betty Chu also worked to raise funds and to get her message out, telling voters that she had a great deal of experience as a long-time attorney, banker, entrepreneur, and elected official.

[52] Fundraising reports indicated that Judy Chu had raised $1.3 million from individuals (constituting about three-quarters), PACs, and unions.