Monterey Park Councilwoman Raises $855,00 in State Senate Race for Portantino’s District Seat

Monterey Park Councilwoman Yvonne Yiu has raised and self-funded more money than both of her Democratic rivals combined in the race for the 25th Senate District, according to her campaign finance report.

Yiu’s campaign reported amassing $855,000 for her bid to succeed State Senator Anthony Portantino, who is terming out in 2024. 

Transparency USA says Yiu opponent John Harabedian has raised  $475,000, while her other opponent, Sasha Perez, has raised $233,000. 

Yiu’s campaign also reported it has $832,000 cash on hand. 

The 25th Senate District covers parts of Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties, including Pasadena, Glendale, Burbank, and Rancho Cucamonga.

Yiu said she was “humbled” by the support and generosity of her donors.

“It is a testament to the belief our community has in our vision for a brighter future,” she said. “We are extremely grateful for the trust they have placed in us.”

Yiu said she has received endorsements from individuals, businesses, and community organizations across the district, including Pasadena Vice Mayor Felicia Williams and Pasadena City College Trustee Sandra Chen Lau.

Yiu obtained a degree in Economics from UCLA, a MBA from Loyola Marymount University and a Certified Regulatory and Compliance Professional (CRCP) designation from Wharton Business School in Pennsylvania. 

Her campaign said she holds 12  securities licenses from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), a private corporation that aims to self-regulate the finance industry.

Before the age of 40, Yiu opened her own investment firm, with over $1 billion in assets under her management. She has served as a financial advisor at Charles Schwab and Citibank, Branch Manager at E*Trade and as a Regional Manager at Merrill Lynch.

If elected, Yiu, who was born in Hongkong and immigrated to the U.S. when she was 16 years old after her father’s passing, would be the only Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) member from Southern California in the State Senate Democratic Caucus after the 2024 election cycle. 

Yiu is the mother of twin 4-year-old boys and a 22-year-old son who’s in medical school. 

To learn more about her campaign, visit www.yvonneyiu.com.