 Chu was previously Chair of the California Board of Equalization, representing the 4th District.She had also served on the Garvey Unified School District Board of Education, the Monterey Park City Council (with five terms as mayor) and the California State Assembly.Chu ran in the 32nd congressional district special election for the seat that was vacated by Hilda Solis after she was confirmed as Barack Obama's Secretary of Labor in 2009.