Loretta Sanchez

Loretta Sánchez
Official portrait, 2007
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from California
In office
January 3, 1997 – January 3, 2017
Preceded byBob Dornan
Succeeded byLou Correa
Constituency46th district (1997–2003, 2013–2017)
47th district (2003–2013)
Personal details
BornLoretta Lorna Sánchez
(1960-01-07) January 7, 1960
PartyRepublican (before 1992)
Democratic (1992–present)
Spouses
  • Stephen Brixey
    (m. 1989; div. 2004)
  • Jack Einwechter
    (m. 2011)
RelativesLinda Sánchez (sister)
EducationChapman 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 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. During her time in the House of Representatives, Sanchez was a member of the Blue Dog Coalition of moderate-to-conservative Democrats.

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%.

She is the sister of Linda Sánchez, who currently represents California's 38th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives.