“The reconfiguration of electoral maps has already started to reveal potential candidates for districts that will be left without a representative or where new ones have emerged.”
Rep. Linda Sánchez, who represents California’s 38th Congressional District, announced she will seek reelection — but in the newly drawn 41st District. Whittier, her hometown, was moved into the 41st District under voter-approved Proposition 50 maps.
Her shift opens the 38th District seat to a new, non-incumbent candidate next year. The redrawn 38th stretches across parts of L.A. County, including Bell, Commerce, El Monte, Diamond Bar, Hacienda Heights, Montebello, Pico Rivera, and West Whittier, while also adding Yorba Linda in Orange County. It no longer includes Whittier, Santa Fe Springs, Norwalk, or La Habra.
For now, it appears to be a showdown between two Latina politicians: one with a strong national profile, and the other who has built a solid foundation at the local level. What is certain is that Hilda Solis and Monica Sánchez exemplify the influence and power of Latina women in the upcoming elections.
Both candidates have spoken of the need to send a “fighter” to Washington, D.C., as a foil to President Donald Trump and his administration.
“The working people of Southern California are under assault by the Trump administration — and I won’t just stand by and let it happen,” Solis said when she announced her candidacy in August.
“I’ve been standing up for the people — and against Trump — as a supervisor, and now it’s time to campaign for the House and fight for the people and democracy in the Congress,” she said.
Monica Sánchez, in a statement announcing her candidacy, said the community needs “a fighter in Washington with the energy to stand up for working people and take on the Trump administration and the corrupt system in Washington that allows corporations to get rich while we struggle to pay for healthcare, childcare, and groceries.”
“I’ll bring the change we need in Washington — to fight back against the Trump administration’s blatant abuse of human rights and the refusal of congressional Republicans to stop health insurance premium increases, and to work hard to make living in California more affordable,” said Monica Sánchez.
Solis, who lives in the San Gabriel Valley city of El Monte, is completing her final term on the county Board of Supervisors and cannot seek reelection to that seat next year due to term limits. She previously served in Congress from 2001 to 2009 and was secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor under the Obama administration from 2009 to 2013.
Seven current House members have endorsed Solis, according to her campaign website. They include Reps. Judy Chu, Laura Friedman, Robert Garcia, Luz Rivas, Brad Sherman and Maxine Waters, all of whom represent L.A. County. She’s also endorsed by Rep. Lou Correa of Orange County.
Monica Sánchez, an educator who works for the L.A. County Office of Education, previously served as mayor of Pico Rivera, one of the Gateway Cities in southeastern L.A. County.
She’s endorsed by two congressmembers — including Rep. Linda Sánchez. Rep. Norma Torres, who represents communities in L.A., Riverside & San Bernardino counties, has also endorsed the Pico Rivera councilmember, according to her campaign.
Both candidates for the 38th District have also listed a number of local mayors, city councilmembers and school board officials endorsing them on their websites.
