Politico looks at Solis seat*

David Mark, former political reporter at the Pasadena Star-News, now writing for Politico, takes a look at the race to replace Rep. Hilda Solis, who is President-elect Obama's pick for Labor Secretary. Mark thinks Judy Chu, chair of the state Board of Equalization, will benefit from a split in the Latino vote.

From the story:

In the special House election to succeed Rep. Hilda L. Solis (D-Calif.), who was recently tapped to become the Obama administration’s labor secretary, former Monterey Park Mayor Judy Chu stands to gain from a potentially crowded field of prominent Latino officeholders that could divide the Hispanic vote and enable her to capture the solidly Democratic, East Los Angeles-based seat.

*Update: Assemblyman Ed Hernandez, once considered a possible candidate for the Solis seat, has decided not to run. Instead he has thrown his support to Chu. This should help her with voters on the eastern side of the district.