Should the OC GOP get behind Loretta Sanchez for the U.S. Senate?

There are no viable Republican candidates for the U.S. Senate seat that is being vacated by U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer in 2016.  There are a few former California Republican Party Chairmen sniffing around but they don’t have much name I.D. and won’t be able to raise money.  For all effects and purposes Boxer will be succeeded by another Democrat.

Given this scenario should the Republican Party of Orange County – and other local GOP groups such as the Lincoln Club, get behind U.S. Rep. Loretta Sanchez for Boxer’s Senate seat – now that she has confirmed that she is running?

The idea sounds nuts but think about it.  She is the ONLY Orange County resident with a shot at Boxer’s seat.  And Sanchez was born and raised here, in Anaheim, and still lives here, in Santa Ana (yes we know she has another home in Virginia).

Sanchez was a Republican for most of her life until she ran for the Anaheim City Council, as Loretta Brixey, and lost badly.  She then swung to the dark side and resumed using her maiden name of Sanchez.  But she really isn’t all that liberal even now.

Sure Sanchez is pro-immigration and pro women’s choice.  So what?  She is pro-business, is a graduate of Chapman University, and she married a decorated Veteran who is a defense lobbyist (he replaced her gay first husband who she divorced a while ago).

We could do worse than Sanchez – and if she somehow wins the Boxer seat that means the OC GOP will be able to pursue her vacated seat in the House of Representatives.  The 46th Congressional District is a winnable seat for the Republicans.  That would be their consolation prize if Sanchez does move on to the U.S. Senate.

Is she a bit of a ding-dong?  I think she is smarter than she lets on.  I can tell she is already trying to clean up her act.  But is she any worse than the drug warrior Kamala Harris?  Why not send an Orange County resident to Washington D.C.?  We have never had a U.S. Senator from Orange County and our previous top politician was President Richard Nixon.  Sanchez surely can’t do any worse than Nixon did!

Art Pedroza Editor

Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

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