April A. Verlato
Candidate for U.S. Representative, Congressional District 28
April A. Verlato is a Republican. She is running for California's 28th District. The election is November 3, 2026. She faces Judy Chu, the Democratic incumbent. Verlato was born in Arcadia, California. She grew up there too. She has a degree from UCLA. It is in political science. She has a law degree from Southwestern Law School. She works as an attorney. She joined the Arcadia City Council in 2016. She was mayor of Arcadia from 2019 to 2020. She helped found the Downtown Arcadia Improvement Association. She has worked on downtown revitalization. She has also backed small businesses. This is her second run for CA-28. She ran against Judy Chu in 2024. She lost that race. She got 35.1% of the vote. Chu got 64.9%. Home: Arcadia, California. Occupation: Attorney. Prior office: Arcadia City Council, elected 2016. Also: Mayor of Arcadia, 2019 to 2020. She has held no federal office. She is not an incumbent in this race.
On the issues
- Economy & Jobs
Supports fiscal responsibility, small-business growth (including minority-owned businesses), and job creation, citing her leadership of Arcadia's downtown revitalization.
Source → - Taxes & Cost of Living
Opposes federal income tax increases, supports a constitutional balanced-budget amendment, and favors restoring the SALT and mortgage interest deductions and full Prop 13 provisions; describes the national debt as unsustainable and cites rising costs of gas, housing, and groceries outpacing wages.
Source → - Health & Health Care
Advocates for market-driven healthcare solutions rather than government-run programs, though no specific policy detail (e.g., on the ACA, Medicaid, or drug prices) was found.
Source → - Immigration & Border
Supports stronger federal border security and enforcement of immigration laws to combat drug and human trafficking and terrorism, citing rising border apprehension statistics.
Source → - Public Safety & Policing
Expresses strong support for law enforcement, having voted to fund police budgets and add officers as Arcadia mayor/council member, though no specific position on federal gun policy was found.
Source → - Criminal Justice & Courts
Opposes zero-bail policies, having organized Arcadia City Council opposition to then-LA County DA George Gascon's zero-bail policy; no specific federal sentencing or drug-policy position found.
Source → - Environment, Energy & Climate
Supports American energy independence, including expanding domestic oil, natural gas, and renewable energy production, framing it as a national security priority; no specific position found on climate emissions targets or public lands.
Source → - Foreign Policy & Defense
Supports a strong, America-first foreign policy and national security posture, and prioritizes veterans' access to medical care, housing, employment, and education, including proposing additional veteran clinics and a major hospital/medical center in the San Gabriel Valley.
Source →
Profiles are compiled from the candidate’s own statements and public records. We never tell you how to vote.