CALIFORNIA BRIEFING / LOS ANGELES
State Sen. Gloria Romero (D-Los Angeles) has decided not to seek to represent East Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley in Congress, according to a statement released Thursday.
Romero said she will instead run for state superintendent of public instruction.
“My passion is education,” she said.
Romero was among the first politicians to declare her interest in replacing Rep. Hilda Solis (D-El Monte) after President-elect Barack Obama chose Solis as labor secretary.
Judy Chu, chairwoman of the state Board of Equalization, announced her candidacy Dec. 22.
Romero said she is endorsing state Sen. Gil Cedillo (D-Los Angeles), who announced Thursday that he would run for the vacant seat.
Romero and Chu ran against each other 10 years ago, facing off in a primary for the state Assembly. Romero won. In 2001, Romero won a seat in the state Senate, replacing Solis, who had moved up to Congress, and Chu was elected to Romero’s vacant Assembly seat.
-- Evelyn Larrubia
Get the L.A. Times Politics newsletter
Deeply reported insights into legislation, politics and policy from Sacramento, Washington and beyond. In your inbox three times per week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
