Democratic Rep. Linda Sánchez is the heavy favorite to win an eleventh term in Congress this year, representing a solidly blue district that’s mostly in east Los Angeles County plus a slice of Orange County.
But first, she’s facing two Republican challengers in the June 7 primary who each have some local name recognition. Walnut Mayor Eric Ching has won election in his city three times. And business owner Ion “John” Sarega has made at least three failed bids for office and remains politically active in his hometown of La Mirada, where his son sits on the City Council.
Because the two candidates with the most votes in the primary will advance to the general election, one of those challengers is likely to face Sánchez in November, when voters will decide who represents the 38th District for the next two years.
The district isn’t as Democrat-heavy as it used to be. During recent redistricting, CA-38 picked up likely GOP voters, losing Cypress and Cerritos to the south while picking up most of La Habra, Walnut and Diamond Bar to the east. But the center of the district remains Sánchez’s hometown of Whittier, and Democrats still hold a 26 point voter registration advantage over Republicans. That, combined with the name recognition and financial advantages Sánchez brings to the table, has forecasters calling her seat safe.
Sánchez, 51, was born in Orange to parents who immigrated from Mexico. She worked as a bilingual aide as she put herself through law school at UCLA. Before she was elected to office in 2002 to represent what was then the 39th District, Sánchez’s legal practice was focused on working with organized labor. She’s now in her 10th term in Congress, having easily won re-election in 2020 against one Democratic challenger.
Sánchez was in the running to become House Democratic Caucus chair in 2018. But she withdrew her name after learning after her husband, James Sullivan, had been indicted over allegations that he and former colleagues on the Connecticut Municipal Electric Energy Cooperative had diverted more than $1 million in federal funds for pricey golfing excursions and trips to the Kentucky Derby. Sánchez was a guest on at least one of those trips, while her husband also was accused of using some of the funds to visit her.
As required by House rules, her campaign staff said Sánchez had sought and received approval from the House Ethics Committee for the trips at issue in the case. And they said Monday that “she was not involved in Mr. Sullivan’s trial as a witness, nor was she ever questioned with respect to the case.”
Sánchez filed for divorce from her husband late last year, per her staff. In December, Sullivan was convicted of theft of federal funds. He’s appealing the ruling but is facing up to 10 years in prison.
Meanwhile, Sánchez has maintained her role on the influential Ways and Means Committee, which means she remains one of the most powerful Latinas in Congress. She’s also been tapped by Democratic leadership for lead roles on immigration initiatives, the Ethics Committee and the Select Committee on Benghazi.
In Congress, much of Sánchez’s legislative work has centered around workers rights, immigration and equality for women and LGBTQ residents. She said some of her proudest moments in Congress include helping to put a spotlight on the issue of brain injuries in football, ensuring that the Affordable Care Act prohibited health insurance companies from charging women more than they charge men for coverage, and for being one of eight women ever to give birth while serving in Congress.
In terms of judging her success as an officeholder, Sánchez cited her direct case work for residents.
“It is my job to fight for my constituents and I feel most accomplished when I get to deliver real results for them.”
As for her political ideology, Sánchez declined to rank herself on a scale of 1-10, with one being far left.
Ching gave himself a six on that scale.
Ching, 55, has managed a telecommunications business for more than 30 years. Asked to sum up his career and personal highlights, Ching said: “Christ Follower, father, public servant, victim’s advocate, entrepreneur.”
His wife died in a car accident in 2017, and Ching has been raising their teenage daughters.
He got his start in politics in 2012 when he first ran for Walnut City Council, He’s now in his 10th year on the council, including two stints as mayor of the east L.A. County city. Ching also served as president of the Chinese American Association of Walnut and regularly volunteers for local churches and nonprofits.
Ching’s CA-38 campaign is focused on border security, the right to bear arms, being tough on crime, opposing affirmative action and supporting parent choice in education. When asked how he’d measure his success in office, he pointed to his time on the Walnut City Council as an example.
“I have fulfilled my promise by increasing the quality of living in my community, achieving over 100% in reserve, balancing the city budget, keeping the community safe, promoting higher education and making our community one of the best cities to live.”
Sarega, 60, so far hasn’t had the same luck in running for office.
During a 2018 bid for state Senate, Sarega finished in fifth place with 9.7% of the vote.
The commercial property owner and pastor came in fifth among seven candidates for three seats on the La Mirada City Council in 2015, when he campaigned on plans to be business friendly, make meetings more accessible and improve public property. He’s also touted that he’s “not a politically correct guy,” with that brash style regularly on display at La Mirada City Council meetings.
Sarega didn’t respond to a request to discuss his 2005 guilty plea to two counts of altering computer data to commit fraud and two counts of attempting to pass off a fake vehicle title or registration, per Los Angeles County Court records. Sarega paid a fine and served three years probation over the conviction, records show.
He also didn’t answer the Register’s questions about his views on key issues or his plans if elected.
Sánchez and Ching responded and agreed on two issues: both support a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants and both said they support legislation that makes access to voting easier.
As for government policies to address climate change, Sánchez says they should be much more aggressive than they are now while Ching said they should be less aggressive.
If the question of gay marriage ever came before Congress, Sánchez said she’d support it and Ching said he’d oppose it.
And as for whether Biden was the true winner of the 2020 election, Sánchez said yes and Ching said no.
Elections officials will begin mailing ballots to all registered voters May 9. Centers will open for in-person voting starting May 28. Visit OCVote.gov to learn more.
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