Loretta Sánchez (born January 7 1960), American politician, has been a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives since 1997. She currently represents the 47th Congressional District of California (map) in central Orange County.

Sanchez was born in Lynwood, California and graduated from Katella High School in Anaheim in 1978. She received her undergraduate degree from Chapman University in Orange in 1982, obtained her MBA from American University in Washington, DC in 1984, and was a financial analyst until entering the House.

Her first election to the House, in the old 46th District in 1996, was bitterly fought. The controversial longtime Republican incumbent, Robert K. Dornan, was targeted as out of touch with his constituency, especially after a distracting run for the 1996 Republican Presidential nomination. The young, professional woman Democrat— who also dropped her married name of Brixey in favor of her maiden name Sanchez— won by only 984 votes on the strength of support from from Hispanics and blue-collar workers. Dornan contested the election, but the results were upheld. Sanchez won a re-match against Dornan in 1998 and was returned again in 2000.

In November 2002, Sanchez was elected for the new 47th District. At the same election, her sister Linda Sánchez was elected for the new 39th District. They are the first pair of sisters to serve simultaneously in the United States Congress.

External link

• official website