Loretta Sanchez facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Loretta Sanchez
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Official portrait, 2007
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California |
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| In office January 3, 1997 – January 3, 2017 |
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| Preceded by | Bob Dornan |
| Succeeded by | Lou Correa |
| Constituency | 46th district (1997–2003, 2013–2017) 47th district (2003–2013) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Loretta Lorna Sanchez
January 7, 1960 Lynwood, California, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Democratic (1992–present) |
| Other political affiliations |
Republican (before 1992) |
| Spouses |
Stephen Brixey
(m. 1989; div. 2004)Jack Einwechter
(m. 2011) |
| Relatives | Linda Sánchez (sister) |
| Education | Chapman University (BA) American University (MBA) |
| Signature |  |
Loretta Lorna Sanchez (born January 7, 1960) is an American politician who served in the United States House of Representatives for 20 years, from 1997 to 2017. She represented parts of central Orange County, California. The House of Representatives is one of the two parts of the U.S. Congress, which makes laws for the country.
As a member of the Democratic Party, Sanchez was known as a moderate, meaning she often held views in the middle of the political spectrum. She was first elected in 1996 in a very close race.
In 2016, Sanchez decided not to run for her House seat again. Instead, she ran for the U.S. Senate but was defeated by fellow Democrat Kamala Harris.
Her sister, Linda Sánchez, is also a politician and serves in the U.S. House of Representatives. They are the only sisters to have ever served in Congress at the same time.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Sanchez was born in Lynwood, California. Her parents were immigrants from Mexico. Her father was a machinist who belonged to a union, and her mother was a secretary. Loretta was one of seven children.
She graduated from Katella High School in Anaheim in 1978. Sanchez has said that she grew up as a "shy, quiet girl" who did not speak English at first. She credits government programs with helping her succeed.
While in high school, she worked as an ice cream server and joined a union, which gave her a scholarship for college. She earned a degree in economics from Chapman University in 1982 and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from American University in 1984. Before becoming a politician, she worked as a financial analyst.
Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives
During her time in Congress, Sanchez worked on several important committees. Committees are small groups of representatives who focus on specific topics, like the military or national security.
Committee Work
- Committee on Armed Services: This committee oversees the U.S. military. Sanchez was a senior member and focused on issues like making the military a safer place for everyone.
- Committee on Homeland Security: This committee deals with protecting the United States from threats like terrorism.
Working with Other Members of Congress
Sanchez was a member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, a group for members of Congress with Hispanic heritage. In 2006, she and several others left the group's political action committee (a committee that raises money for campaigns) because they disagreed with its leader, Joe Baca.
In 2007, Sanchez left the caucus itself. She stated that Baca had been disrespectful to female members of the group. Other female lawmakers also made similar complaints.
What Were Her Political Positions?
Sanchez described herself as a "moderate" Democrat. She was a member of the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of Democrats with more conservative views on money matters. However, she often voted with the more liberal members of her party on many issues.
Her main interests included education, crime prevention, helping the economy grow, and protecting older citizens.
Education
Sanchez strongly supported programs like Head Start, which helps young children from low-income families prepare for school. She spoke about her own childhood experience of growing up poor and having a speech problem. During a debate, she said:
I know about these kids, because I am one of those kids ... It hurts to hear you talk about how we are not successful, or how we are losers. But we are very successful. We have had a lot of successes with Head Start.
Armed Services and Social Issues
As a senior member of the Armed Services Committee, Sanchez worked to change how the military handles serious crimes. She pushed for better investigations and more support for victims.
On social issues, Sanchez is considered liberal. For example, she supports a woman's right to choose and voted against a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.
Foreign Policy and Human Rights
Sanchez often spoke out on international issues. She voted against a trade agreement with Vietnam because she believed the country needed to improve its human rights record. The Vietnamese government denied her a visa to visit the country four times.
On October 10, 2002, she was one of 133 House members who voted against authorizing the invasion of Iraq. However, she later voted to approve funding for the troops who were there.
Sanchez is a strong supporter of human rights. She voted to recognize the Armenian genocide and to keep a travel ban on Cuba until it released its political prisoners.
Homeland and Cyber Security
In 2016, Sanchez helped pass two measures to improve national security. One bill created a program to help big cities prepare for and respond to terrorist attacks. Another bill helped states use government funds to improve their cybersecurity and share information about online threats.
Her Political Campaigns
Sanchez was originally a member of the Republican Party but switched to the Democratic Party in 1992.
1996: A Very Close Election
In 1996, Sanchez ran for Congress against Bob Dornan, who had been in office for six terms. The race was very competitive. Sanchez won by just 984 votes.
Dornan challenged the results, claiming that some votes were cast by people who were not U.S. citizens. Congress investigated for 16 months. They found that some votes were cast improperly, but not enough to change the outcome of the election. In 1998, the House of Representatives voted to dismiss the case, and Sanchez kept her seat.
Later Elections
In 1998, Sanchez easily defeated Dornan in a rematch. After that, her district was redrawn to include more Hispanic voters, making it a safer district for a Democrat to win. She won re-election easily for many years.
2016: Running for the U.S. Senate
In 2015, Sanchez announced she would run for the U.S. Senate seat being left open by retiring Senator Barbara Boxer. She ran against Kamala Harris, who was California's Attorney General at the time.
Under California's "top-two" primary system, the two candidates with the most votes move on to the general election, regardless of their party. Both Harris and Sanchez were Democrats.
On November 8, 2016, Sanchez lost the Senate race to Harris. In her speech, she said, "this is not the last that people will see of me."
Life After Congress
After leaving Congress in 2017, Sanchez donated her official papers and records to her alma mater, Chapman University. These documents are available for the public to see.
She has remained active in public life. In 2017, she became an executive producer for a political TV show. She has also run for local offices in Orange County.
Personal Life
Sanchez was married to Stephen Brixey for 14 years. They divorced in 2004. In 2011, she married Jack Einwechter, a retired Army Colonel and lawyer.
Her father, Ignacio, had Alzheimer's disease for many years before he passed away in 2018. Sanchez appeared in an HBO documentary about the disease to share her family's experience.
While in Congress, Sanchez was famous for sending creative and fun holiday cards to the people in her district each year. The cards often featured her with her family and pets in funny, staged photos.
See also
In Spanish: Loretta Sanchez para niños
- List of Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States Congress
- Women in the United States House of Representatives
