Will Loretta Sanchez announce US Senate Bid at DFOC Luncheon?

Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez is looking increasingly like a candidate for US Senate.  California AG Kamala Harris was the first in the race and has scared off a number of possible challengers but Sanchez brings a different set of chops to the table for voters.

She’s won tough races before — two against B-1 Bob Dornan and crushed Van Tran when Republicans were convinced he’d win.  She knows Washington and how it works well.  She has high profile committee appointments in the House.  Her moderate “blue dog” reputation makes her a viable option for California Republicans and moderates in parts of the state that are lighter blue to downright red.

From the Sacramento Bee story on Sanchez’s appearance in San Francisco, Sanchez paints Harris as inexperienced especially in foreign policy:

“Look, in a very dangerous world, and a very scary world that we’re in, I’ve got 19 years of sitting on Armed Services and Homeland Security” committees, Sanchez continued. “In the Senate, (you) need somebody who already understands what’s going on. I don’t have any ramp-up. … We can’t afford somebody who’s never – who doesn’t understand what’s going on in the world.”

With the California Democratic Party’s convention next month in Anaheim, and Harris expected to have a prime speaking slot, Sanchez predicted, “There’ll be action in my hometown, don’t worry.”

Her remarks, followed by a question-and-answer session, came during a cocktail-hour meet-and-greet at Don Ramon’s Mexican restaurant, organized by numerous Democratic Latino organizations in the Bay Area. In introductory comments, several attendees said they felt it was important that the field include a qualified Latino Democratic candidate.

Perhaps we’ll find out at the April 20 DFOC luncheon where she is a guest speaker at the perfect event to launch a campaign.  Here are the details:

Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez is a homegrown leader. Born and raised in Orange County, Loretta is a first generation American and the second of seven children. She attended Head Start and Orange County public schools before enrolling at Chapman University and earning her MBA from American University.

While working in the private sector, Loretta remained committed to public service through volunteer work. The more work she did, the more she saw that Orange County wasn’t getting what it deserved from the federal government. In 1996, she decided to run for Congress and astonished the nation by defeating the incumbent Republican. Loretta became the first Hispanic woman ever elected to Congress from Orange County.

18 years later, Loretta remains a champion for the people of Orange County, especially as the country climbs out of the recession. She believes small businesses are the backbone of Orange County’s economy and is committed to helping them succeed, get their fair share of federal dollars and keep jobs in the region.

In Washington, she has worked across the aisle, climbed through the ranks and is now the highest ranking female on both the House Armed Services and Homeland Security Committees.

On the Armed Services Committee, Loretta ensures our service members are equipped both on the battlefield and when they return home. During her time in Congress, Loretta has brought more than $80 million in defense spending back to Orange County and makes sure local veterans get the education and health benefits they deserve. She is a vocal advocate for the implementation of women in military combat roles as well as stopping sexual assaults in the military. In 2014, she introduced the She is Ready (SIR) Act to break down artificial barriers for women entering combat positions. In 2013, her “Track It To Prevent It Act”, which tracks service members with a history of sexual harassment to prevent further bad behavior, was included in the annual defense spending bill.

Loretta has served on the Homeland Security Committee since its inception. In 2013, she introduced the Border Enforcement, Security and Technology (BEST) Act, which strengthens the nation’s borders using the most up-to-date technology. Later that year she introduced the Biometric Exit Improvement Act, which would implement a biometric exit program, completing the final recommendation of the 9/11 commission. She is also a member of the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence, where she has been a vocal advocate for NSA data collection reform.

Throughout her tenure, Loretta has never forgotten her roots. She is home nearly every weekend, regularly visits schools and businesses and always remains accessible and accountable to the community she loves.

April 20, 2015, 12:00 Noon 

The Irvine Hilton, 18800 MacArthur Blvd.,

Irvine, CA 92612

To reserve a Non-Member ticket ($45.00) you may write a check payable to

DFOC, PO Box 26708, Santa Ana, CA 92799

https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/page/lorettasanchezluncheon