Loretta Sanchez
Loretta Lorna Sanchez (born January 7, 1960) is an American politician who served in the United States House of Representatives from 1997 to 2017, representing parts of central Orange County, California. A member of the Democratic Party, she was first elected in 1996, when she defeated long-serving Republican U.S. Representative Bob Dornan by fewer than 1,000 votes.[1] During her time in the House of Representatives, Sanchez was a member of the Blue Dog Coalition of moderate-to-conservative Democrats.[2]
Loretta Sanchez
46th district (1997–2003, 2013–2017)
47th district (2003–2013)
Democratic (1992–present)
Republican (before 1992)
Linda Sánchez (sister)
Sanchez chose not to run for re-election to the House in 2016, instead opting to run in the state's U.S. Senate race. She was defeated in the general election by fellow Democrat, California Attorney General and future U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, 61.6% to 38.4%.[3]
She is the sister of Linda Sánchez, who currently represents California's 38th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Early life and education[edit]
Sanchez was born in Lynwood, California, and graduated from Katella High School in Anaheim in 1978. Her father was a unionized machinist, and her mother worked as a secretary. Her Mexican-immigrant parents had seven children, one of whom—Linda Sánchez[4]—also served in Congress, making them the first (and, as of December 2023, the only) sisters to serve simultaneously in Congress.[5]
Loretta Sanchez joined the United Food and Commercial Workers when she worked as an ice cream server in high school and received a union scholarship to college. She received her undergraduate degree in economics from Chapman College in Orange in 1982, obtained her MBA from American University in Washington, D.C. in 1984, and was a financial analyst for defense contractor Booz Allen Hamilton until entering the House.[6] Sanchez describes herself as growing up a "shy, quiet girl" who did not speak English. She credits government with much of her success in public life.[7]
Post-congressional career[edit]
In September 2017, it was announced that Sanchez would be the executive producer of a new political drama show called Accidental Candidate, which appeared on NBC.[65] Since leaving the House, she has run unsuccessfully for two local offices in California, the Orange County Board of Supervisors and the Rancho Santiago Community College District as a college trustee.[66]