if Loretta Runs for Senate, who runs for Congress…

If Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez does throw her hat into the ring for US Senate, just who will try to replace her in Congress?

Former State Senator Lou Correa has long coveted the spot and does have a campaign apparatus in place from his recently failed attempt to win his old Board of Supervisors’ seat.  He also has a campaign war chest and can use for a Congressional run.  As a moderate Democrat, politically, he is closely aligned with Sanchez and can appeal to middle of the road voters who skew Republican.

State Rep Tom Daly has already proven he’s a winner with voters in Sanchez’s district, and would be strong with likely voters in Anaheim.  Daly would have to decide if a move to Washington makes sense for him and his family.  The plus side of Daly in DC is the Great Park Veteran’s Cemetery & Memorial would have a true champion in Congress.

Former State Rep Jose Solorio’s name has popped up a couple of times, but he’s have to run a very different campaign than he did for SD-33, starting with a new team of consultants and a new field team.  His colleague of the Rancho Santiago Community College Board, Claudia Alvarez has also been mentioned as a possible candidate for Sanchez’s seat, but her theatrics on the Santa Ana City Council and her anti-Semitic tirades against developer Irv Chase make her the easiest Democratic candidate for a Republican to beat.

Anaheim council member Jordan Brandman should also be mentioned as a possible candidate due to his strong ties in Anaheim and the Orange parts of the Congressional district.  He’d have his work cut out for him in Santa Ana, but many of the voters there didn’t come out in the 2012 Primary, which hurt Michele Martinez, whereas Brandman’s voters in Anaheim and Orange could make the difference in a top two race especially if there are more than two Latino candidates in the mix.

On the Republican side, it’s too soon for either State Senator Janet Nguyen or Supervisor Andrew Do to seek the seat having just been elected.  Supervisors Shawn Nelson, Todd Spitzer, or State Assemblyman Don Wagner could make a bid, as you don’t have to live in the district to run to represent it in Congress.  On the heels of John Moorlach’s state senate win and the pride of the Tea Party, could Buena Park’s Deborah Pauley make a run?  For that matter, would Costa Mesa’s Jim Righeimer make a play?  It’s hard to see a strong Republican in this race.

Now this is all speculation until we know what Loretta Sanchez’s plans are.  But challengers for the seat ought to be decisive about announcing their intention, much like Kamala Harris did when she announced her plans to replace Barbara Boxer in the Senate.

Feel free to let us know what you think.