Loretta Sanchez 'Seriously Considering' Running For Senate In California | HuffPost

California Congresswoman 'Seriously Considering' Running For Senate

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Managing Editor, Breaking News, HuffPost

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Rep. Loretta Sanchez is the latest California Democrat to express interest in retiring Sen. Barbara Boxer's seat.

"For the past 18 years, I have focused on putting California’s working families first. From immigration reform to affordable health care to funding quality education, I have advocated for policies that give all families the same access to the American Dream," Sanchez said in a Tuesday statement. "Californians deserve a strong voice in Washington and I have never been afraid to speak up, which is why I am seriously considering running for the United States Senate in 2016."

Sanchez was first elected to Congress in 1996, representing part of Southern California's Orange County. She explored running for California governor in 2010, but ultimately decided against jumping in the race.

Boxer, who has served in the Senate for more than two decades, announced last week that she would not run for re-election in 2016. The state has not had an open Senate seat since Boxer was first elected in 1992.

Sanchez's statement came hours after California Attorney General Kamala Harris announced that she would run for the seat, becoming the first candidate to officially jump in the race. Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has also said he is considering running, while California Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Monday that he would stay out of the race.

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New Congress Members

Rep. Alma Adams (D-N.C.)(01 of74)

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Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.)(02 of74)

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Rep. Rick Allen (R-Ga.)(03 of74)

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Rep. Brad Ashford (D-Neb.)(04 of74)

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Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.)(05 of74)

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Rep. Mike Bishop (R-Mich.)(06 of74)

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Rep. Rod Blum (R-Iowa)(07 of74)

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Rep. Mike Bost (R-Ill.)(08 of74)

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Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.)(09 of74)

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Rep. Dave Brat (R-Va.)(10 of74)

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Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.)(11 of74)

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Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.)(12 of74)

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Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-Va.)(13 of74)

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Rep. Ryan Costello (R-Pa.)(14 of74)

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Rep. Carlos Curbelo (R-Fla.)(15 of74)

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Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D-Calif.)(16 of74)

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Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.)(17 of74)

Congresswoman-elect Debbie Dingell addresses supporters during an election night rally in Detroit, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Rep. Bob Dold (R-Ill.)(18 of74)

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Rep. Tom Emmer (R-Minn.)(19 of74)

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Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa.)(20 of74)

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Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.)(21 of74)

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Rep. Gwen Graham (D-Fla.)(22 of74)

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Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-Wis.)(23 of74)

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Rep. Frank Guinta (R-N.H.)(24 of74)

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Rep. Cresent Hardy (R-Nev.)(25 of74)

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Rep. Jody Hice (R-Ga.)(26 of74)

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Rep. French Hill (R-Ark.)(27 of74)

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Rep. Will Hurd (R-Texas)(28 of74)

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Rep. Evan Jenkins (R-W.Va.)(29 of74)

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Rep. John Katko (R-N.Y.)(30 of74)

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Rep. Steve Knight (R-Calif.)(31 of74)

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Rep. Brenda Lawrence (D-Mich.)(32 of74)

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Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.)(33 of74)

CORRECTION: This slide has been updated to reflect Lieu represents California, not Hawaii. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.)(34 of74)

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Rep. Mia Love (R-Utah)(35 of74)

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Rep. Tom MacArthur (R-N.J.)(36 of74)

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Rep. Martha McSally (R-Ariz.)(37 of74)

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Rep. John Moolenaar (R-Mich.)(38 of74)

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Rep. Alex Mooney (R-W.Va.)(39 of74)

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Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.)(40 of74)

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Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.)(41 of74)

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Rep. Don Norcross (D-N.J.)(42 of74)

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Sen. David Perdue (R-Ga.)(43 of74)

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Rep. Bruce Poliquin (R-Maine)(44 of74)

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Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-Texas)(45 of74)

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Rep. Kathleen Rice (D-N.Y.)(46 of74)

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Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.)(47 of74)

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Rep. David Rouzer (R-N.C.)(48 of74)

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Rep. Steve Russell (R-Okla.)(49 of74)

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Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.)(50 of74)

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Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.)(51 of74)

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Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska)(52 of74)

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Rep. Mark Takai (D-Hawaii)(53 of74)

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Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.)(54 of74)

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Rep. Norma Torres (D-Calif.)(55 of74)

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Rep. Dave Trott (R-Mich.)(56 of74)

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Rep. Mark Walker (R-N.C.)(57 of74)

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Rep. Mimi Walters (R-Calif.)(58 of74)

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Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.)(59 of74)

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Rep. David Young (R-Iowa)(60 of74)

FILE - This undated file photo provided by Young for Iowa, shows Iowa Republican candidate for U.S. House, David Young. Young, a former top aide to Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley, is the first Republican to declare publicly his candidacy for the U.S. House seat now held by U.S. Rep. Tom Latham. Latham said last month he would not seek re-election after 10 consecutive terms. (AP Photo/Young for Iowa, File) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.)(61 of74)

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Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-Mont.)(62 of74)

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Rep. Buddy Carter (R-Ga.)(63 of74)

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Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Ala.)(64 of74)

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Rep. Brian Babin (R-Texas)(65 of74)

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Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.)(66 of74)

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Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.)(67 of74)

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Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.)(68 of74)

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Garret Graves(69 of74)

UNITED STATES - SEPTEMBER 23: Garret Graves, candidate for Louisiana's 6th Congressional District, is interviewed by CQ Roll Call, September 23, 2014. (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call) (credit:Tom Williams via Getty Images)

Rep. Gary Peters(70 of74)

UNITED STATES - NOVEMBER12: Senator-elect Rep. Gary Peters, D-Mich., does a television interview in the Cannon rotunda on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2014. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call) (credit:Bill Clark via Getty Images)

Sen. James Lankford (R-Ok.)(71 of74)

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Sen. Shelly Moore Capito (R-W.Va.)(72 of74)

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Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.)(73 of74)

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Rep. Ralph Abraham (R-La.)(74 of74)

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