CALIFORNIA BRIEFING / LOS ANGELES

Seven more candidates joined the race Monday for the 32nd Congressional District seat vacated when former Rep. Hilda L. Solis (D-El Monte) stepped down to became secretary of Labor.

At the 5 p.m. filing deadline, the field included eight Democrats -- Francisco Alonso of Monterey Park; state Sen. Gil Cedillo of Los Angeles; Board of Equalization member Judy Chu of Baldwin Park; parent and community volunteer Benita Duran of East Los Angeles; independent filmmaker Stefan “Contreras” Lysenko of Van Nuys; Nick Juna Mostert of Monterey Park; businessman/field representative Rafael F. Nadal of Rosemead; and Emanuel Pleitez of Los Angeles.

There are three Republicans in the race -- Betty Chu of Monterey Park; Teresa Hernandez of South El Monte and David A. Truax of Covina -- and one Libertarian, Christopher M. Agrella of Montclair.

-- William Nottingham