Is she or isn't she? Rep. Loretta Sanchez to make 'significant political announcement' Thursday

After an email blunder this week appeared to announce her candidacy for U.S Senate, Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Calif.) said she'll make a "significant political announcement" Thursday morning, just one day before the California Democratic Convention kicks off in Anaheim.

If Sanchez announces, she’ll enter a competitive June 2016 primary race and face a hefty contender with statewide name recognition in California: Attorney General Kamala Harris, who got an early campaign start in January.

Sanchez has represented central Orange County in the U.S. House of Representatives for nearly 20 years. She sits on the Homeland Security and Armed Services committees.

Several newspapers reported on Tuesday that Sanchez’s campaign released an email to supporters announcing her candidacy for the Senate seat that will open up after veteran Sen. Barbara Boxer retires. She has been considering a bid since January.

Sanchez immediately backed away from the email, saying she had not made any decision -  yet. The email was a draft sent out by mistake, she said.

But on Wednesday, campaign consultant Bill Carrick told KPCC that Sanchez would be making a “significant political announcement” on Thursday in Santa Ana. He would not confirm, though, whether Sanchez would run for Senate.

California’s two Senate seats, filled by Boxer and Sen. Dianne Feinstein, haven’t opened up since 1992. 

“I don’t think we’ve seen all of the Democrats who are potentially running, get in the race yet,” said U.C. Irvine political science professor Louis DeSipio. “I think that’s why we’re seeing Sanchez being a little tentative at this point.”

Sanchez entered politics in 1996 as an outsider against long-term Republican incumbent Bob Dornan in a tough and close race. She didn’t win with strong backing from the Democratic Party but over time has cemented her position in the district.

She faced a serious challenge in 2010 from former state Assemblyman Van Tran but ultimately won decisively. Sanchez’s firm stance against human rights violations in Vietnam has helped garner support from one of Orange County’s largest voting blocs in Little Saigon.

“She has bridged the racial and ethnic divides of her congressional district,” DeSipio said.

Her challenge, if she throws her hat in the ring, will be getting statewide name recognition among voter. Sanchez is relatively unknown outside of Southern California. She’ll need to win Latino votes from else where in the state.

“Anybody relying on the Latino constituency to win a statewide election has to do a lot of get out the vote,” DeSipio said. "Whether she’ll have the resources to do that in a primary, will be a challenge."

Sanchez has $540,000 in her campaign account for reelection to the House, according to campaign finance disclosures. That money is transferable. Harris has raised $2.5 million as of March 31.

He said Harris’s early declaration for the seat was strategic in trying to push out potential opponent by showing she was ready to mount a campaign and securing key endorsements.

The two politicians have dueling meet-and-greet events at the state Democratic Convention on Saturday, foreshadowing what could become a California politics contest between Southern California Latinos and Bay Area party heavyweights. Sanchez will host a “Margaritas & Mambo” event at the convention while Harris will meet supporters at her “Cookies with Kamala,” sponsored by L.A. County Young Democrats group.

On the Republican side former California GOP head Thomas Del Beccaro and Assemblyman Rocky Chavez have also announced their candidacies.

Correction: An earlier version of this story misspelled Thomas Del Beccaro's name. KPCC regrets the error.