California Democrat Judy Chu became the first Chinese-American woman elected to the U.S. Congress, winning a largely Hispanic district with 61 percent of the vote in a special election to replace Hilda Solis who was appointed as Labor Secretary.

In an audio interview with NPR, the newly-minted Congresswoman talked about her journey from school board member to Capitol Hill and winning a district of majority Hispanic voters in the 32nd Congressional District of California. (Listen here)