California House District 28 2026: the ads, and who's paying for them

Judy Chu won · 69.6% to 30.4%, with an estimated 91% of the vote counted · Called by AP on Nov 3

Judy Chu (Democrat) and April Verlato (Republican) are the nominees for California's 28th congressional district in the November 3, 2026 general election. Judy Chu is the incumbent. By their latest FEC reports, Judy Chu's campaign had raised $1.4 million (through October 14, 2026) and April Verlato's campaign $700 (through October 14, 2026). Outside groups have reported $17 for Judy Chu and $0 against.

Judy Chu (DEM, incumbent), April Verlato (REP). 0 ads analyzed, 0 with at least one technique in the copy. Newest first. The paid-for-by line is the advertiser's own filing.

Also on every California ballot: 14 statewide ballot measures → The ballot wording and the official arguments, read for rhetorical techniques.

How to vote in California

From California's official election office. Each line links to the official page it came from.

Registration Register by Mon, Oct 19 (Conditional (same-day) registration Oct 20 - Nov 3). Same-day registration: Conditional registration, provisional ballot, Oct 20 - Nov 3 (passed)Source: sos.ca.gov ↗Source: sos.ca.gov ↗
Early voting in person Mon, Oct 5 to (Varies by county; VCA vote centers open Oct 24)Source: sos.ca.gov ↗
By mail Anyone can vote by mail; return it by Tue, Nov 3 (Postmarked by Nov 3 and received by Nov 10; drop-off by 8 p.m. Nov 3) (passed)Source: elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov ↗Source: sos.ca.gov ↗
Election Day Tue, Nov 3. Polls: 7 a.m. - 8 p.m. (passed)Source: sos.ca.gov ↗
ID at the polls Generally no ID required; some first-time voters who registered by mail/online without ID may be askedSource: elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov ↗

Checked October 8, 2026. Rules can change; confirm with the official site before you go.

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Money in this race

From FEC filings for 2025–26. Outside spending is money a group spends on its own about a candidate — TV and online ads, mail, canvassing. It is not a donation to the campaign, and the candidate does not control it. Supporting means it was spent to help that candidate win; Opposing means it was spent to defeat them, usually on attack ads. Groups report it within 24 or 48 hours as the election nears. Raised is the campaign's own fundraising, as of its latest quarterly report. Largest donors come from each outside spender's own FEC receipts, with each donor's share of its itemized receipts; donors under $100,000 are not named. People are shown with the employer and occupation they reported. A donor that is itself a political committee is shown with its own largest donors. Companies and nonprofits don't report their funders to the FEC, so the trail ends there, and the page says so.

Judy Chu (DEM, incumbent)

Raised
$1.4M through 2026-10-14 individuals $866K · PACs $510K · cash on hand $3.7M
Outside spending
$17 supporting Chu · latest reported 2026-01-09
Largest outside spenders
SIERRA CLUB INDEPENDENT ACTION — $10 supporting Chu PLANNED PARENTHOOD ADVOCATES PASADENA AND SAN GABRIEL VALLEY PAC — $7 supporting Chu
Bundled through PACs
$2,750 through 2 PACs · FEC bulk data of 2026-11-01 AMERICAN COUNCIL OF ENGINEERING COMPANIES (ACEC/PAC) — $2,000 from 5 gifts Lobbyist/registrant PAC NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BROADCASTERS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (NABPAC) — $750 from 2 gifts Lobbyist/registrant PAC
138 PACs gave directly — alphabetical; the legal limit is $5,000 per election
  • ACSPA-SURGEONS PAC $2,500
  • ACT-DEMOCRATIC VICTORY $1,000
  • AECOM PAC $1,000
  • AFLAC INCORPORATED PAC $2,500
  • AFM TEMPO PAC $1,000
  • AFSCME PEOPLE $10K
  • AICPA PAC $5,000
  • AIR LINE PILOTS ASSOCIATION INT'L $5,000
  • ALASKA AIR GROUP PAC $1,000
  • AMALGAMATED SUGAR COMPANY PAC $1,000
  • AMAZON PAC $1,000
  • AMERICA'S CREDIT UNION PAC OF CREDIT UNION NATIONAL ASSOCIATION INC $5,000
  • AMERICA'S ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES PAC $2,000
  • AMERICAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY ASSOCIATION PAC $3,500
  • AMERICAN ACADEMY OF FAMILY PHYSICIANS PAC $1,000
  • AMERICAN ACADEMY OF OPHTHALMOLOGY PAC $2,500
  • AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR JUSTICE PAC (AAJ) $5,000
  • AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF NURSE ANESTHETISTS CRNA $2,500
  • AMERICAN COLLEGE OF CARDIOLOGY $2,000
  • AMERICAN COLLEGE OF PHYSICIAN SERVICES INC - ACP SERVICES PAC $2,500
  • AMERICAN COLLEGE OF RHEUMATOLOGY $2,500
  • AMERICAN CONG OF OBSTETRICIANS & GYNECOLOGISTS PAC $1,000
  • AMERICAN COUNCIL OF ENGINEERING COMPANIES $4,000
  • AMERICAN COUNCIL OF LIFE INSURERS PAC $2,500
  • AMERICAN CRYSTAL SUGAR PAC $10K
  • AMERICAN DENTAL POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $2,500
  • AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS COPE $10K
  • AMERICAN HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION PAC $4,000
  • AMERICAN HOTEL AND LODGING ASSOCIATION PAC $2,500
  • AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION PAC $1,750
  • AMERICAN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSOC., INC PAC $1,000
  • AMERICAN PHYSICAL THERAPY ASSOCIATION PAC $3,000
  • AMERICAN POSTAL WORKERS UNION COPE $1,500
  • AMERICAN RETIREMENT ASSOCIATION (ARA PAC) $3,000
  • AMERICAN SOCIETY OF ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVES PAC $2,000
  • AMERICAN SUGAR CANE LEAQUE $3,000
  • ANIMAL WELLNESS ACTION PAC $1,000
  • ARCHIPAC THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS $1,000
  • ASCA PAC $1,000
  • ASCAP LEGISLATIVE FUND FOR THE ARTS $1,000
  • ASCRS EYE PAC-AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CATARACT AND REFRACTIVE SURGERY'S PAC $1,000
  • ASIAN AMERICAN HOTEL OWNERS ASSOCIATION (AAHOA) PAC $2,500
  • ASSOC. OF AMERICAN PUBLISHERS PAC $1,000
  • AT&T INC. FEDERAL PAC $2,000
  • ATU COPE VOLUNTARY ACCOUNT $1,000
  • BRAIN PAC $1,000
  • BUILD PAC $2,500
  • CAP-PAC SEPARATE SEGREGATED FUND OF THE NATIONAL COMMUNITY ACTION FOUNDATION INC $2,500
  • CARPENTERS LEGISLATIVE IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE $5,000
  • CARRIER GLOBAL CORPORATION PAC $1,000
  • CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS INC. PAC $2,500
  • COLLEGE OF AMERICAN PATHOLOGISTS PAC $1,000
  • COUNCIL OF INSURANCE AGENTS & BROKERS PAC $2,500
  • DAVITA INC PAC $1,000
  • DEFEND THE VOTE $2,500
  • DELOITTE PAC $5,000
  • DELTA AIR LINES PAC $1,000
  • DEMOCRATS WIN FUND $1,000
  • DRIVE COMMITTEE $3,500
  • EAST WEST BANCORP INC PAC $5,000
  • EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES PAC $1,000
  • ELECT DEMOCRATIC WOMEN $4,500
  • ELEVANCE HEALTH PAC $2,500
  • EMPLOYEES OF NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORP. PAC (ENGPAC) $5,000
  • EMPLOYEES OF RTX CORPORATION PAC $1,000
  • ERNST & YOUNG PAC $5,000
  • FEDERATION OF EXCHANGE ACCOMODATORS 1031 PAC $2,000
  • FEDEX CORPORATION PAC $2,500
  • FEDPAC FEDERATION OF AMERICAN HOSPITALS $1,000
  • FINSECA PAC $2,500
  • FLORIDA SUGAR CANE LEAGUE PAC $1,000
  • GENERAL MOTORS COMPANY PAC $1,000
  • GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP INC PAC $1,000
  • GRIDIRON PAC $2,000
  • HOLLAND & KNIGHT COMMITTEE FOR EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT $1,000
  • HOME DEPOT INC. $2,500
  • HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL PAC $2,000
  • I-CHINESE AMERICAN PAC $525
  • IBEW PAC VOLUNTARY FUND $5,000
  • IMMIGRANTS LIST $5,000
  • INLAND EMPIRE LEADERSHIP PAC $1,000
  • INT'L UNION OF OPERATING ENGINEERS LOCAL 12 $5,000
  • INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIREFIGHTERS $2,500
  • INTERNATIONAL TRADEMARK ASSOCIATION PAC $2,000
  • INVESTMENT COMPANY INSTITUTE PAC $2,500
  • K&L GATES LLP PAC $1,000
  • LIUNA PAC $5,000
  • LOCKHEED MARTIN EMPLOYEES PAC $1,000
  • LOS ANGELES/ORANGE COUNTIES BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION TRADES COUNCIL $1,750
  • LPL FINANCIAL LLC PAC $2,500
  • MACHINISTS NON-PARTISAN POLITICAL LEAGUE $5,000
  • MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE CO. PAC $2,500
  • MINN-DAK FARMERS COOPERATIVE SUGAR PAC (MDSPAC) $1,000
  • MOLINA HEALTHCARE INC PAC $2,000
  • MORGAN STANLEY PAC $5,000
  • NARFE FEDERAL BENEFITS EXPERTS $1,000
  • NAT'L ASSN. OF INSURANCE AND FINANCIAL ADVISORS PAC (NAIFAPAC) $7,000
  • NATIONAL AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS ASSOCIATION PAC $3,500
  • NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BENEFITS AND INSURANCE PROFESSIONALS PAC $1,000
  • NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ENROLLED AGENTS PAC $5,000
  • NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LETTER CARRIERS OF THE USA $5,000
  • NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REAL ESTATE INVESTMET TRUST, INC. PAC $5,000
  • NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $5,000
  • NATIONAL EMERGENCY MEDICINE PAC (NEMPAC) $1,500
  • NEA FUND FOR CHILDREN & PUBLIC EDUCATION $4,000
  • NELSON MULLINS RILEY & SCARBOROUGH $2,000
  • NEW YORK LIFE INSURANCE PAC $2,500
  • NMHC PAC $5,000
  • NOSSAMAN LLP PAC $1,000
  • NTRA PAC INC $500
  • ORAL & MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY PAC $2,000
  • POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE OF IATSE $2,500
  • POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE OF THE AAOS $1,000
  • PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS PAC $7,500
  • PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS IN CA GOVERNMENT - FEDERAL PAC $1,750
  • PRUDENTIAL FINANCIAL INC. PAC $2,500
  • PSYCHOLOGY PAC OF THE AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION PRACTICE $10K
  • SEIU COPE $5,000
  • SELECT MEDICAL PAC $1,000
  • SEMPRA ENERGY EMPLOYEES PAC $1,750
  • SHEET METAL AIR RAIL TRANSPORTATION PAC $5,000
  • SMALL BUSINESS INVESTOR ALLIANCE-PAC $7,500
  • SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT INC. PAC $1,000
  • STATE FARM FEDERAL PAC $1,500
  • SUSTAINABLE ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT COALITION PAC SEEC PAC $1,000
  • TD BANK, NA PAC $2,000
  • THE SOCIETY OF THORACIC SURGEONS PAC $1,000
  • THE SOUNDEXCHANGE, INC. PAC $2,000
  • TIAA PAC $2,500
  • TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA INC PAC $2,000
  • TRANSPORT WORKERS UNION - POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS $3,000
  • UAW V CAP (UAW VOLUNTARY COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM) $4,250
  • UNION PACIFIC CORPORATION FUND FOR EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT $2,500
  • UNITED FOOD & COMMERCIAL WORKERS ACTIVE BALLOT CLUB GENERAL FUND $4,500
  • UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP PAC $2,000
  • UPSPAC $2,500
  • VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC. PAC $2,000
  • WESTERN ALLIANCE BANK PAC (WABPAC) $2,000

All filings at the FEC ↗

April Verlato (REP)

Raised
$700 through 2026-10-14 individuals $700 · PACs $0 · cash on hand $655
Outside spending
none reported
Bundled through PACs
none reported · FEC bulk data of 2026-11-01

All filings at the FEC ↗

No campaign ads analyzed for this race yet.

What this page is

  • An ad is on this page because its own "Paid for by" line is a campaign in this race; or it comes from a national Senate group and ran mostly in CA; or it ran mostly in CA and names a candidate — unless its sponsor is a campaign for some other office. Ads from outside groups appear alongside the campaigns' own.
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