Romero drops out*, **

The pathway to Congress just got a little easier for Judy Chu - or a little harder, depending on how you view it.

According to the Sacramento Bee, state Sen. Gloria Romero has pulled her name from contention in the coming race to replace Rep. Hilda Solis and will instead support the candidacy of fellow state Sen. Gil Cedillo.

Romero said she'll move ahead with plans to run next year for state Superintendent of Public Instruction.

With Romero out, Cedillo presumably will have an easier time unifying the Latino vote in the heavily Latino district. Politico.com had a story yesterday that Romero and Cedillo might split the Latino vote and throw the election to Chu.

Chu, who chairs the state Board of Equalization, might still have the advantage in the district. She has has the endorsement of a couple important Latino electeds and has represented portions of the 32nd Congressional District in the Assembly.

All of the aforementioned politicians are Democrats, by the way. CD 32 is a safe Democratic seat.

Solis, by the way, is President-elect Obama's nominee for Secretary of Labor.

*Note: Solis is scheduled to go before the Senate for her confirmation hearing tomorrow (Jan. 9).

**Update: Sen. Cedillo confirms what everyone already knew, that he's running for the Solis seat. Read the press release here.