House Democratic Leaders Start Sanchez Fund-Raiser

Signaling the high stakes in the fight over the Orange County congressional seat held by Rep. Loretta Sanchez, House Democratic leaders have undertaken a major fund-raising campaign on her behalf.

In a letter signed last week by House Minority Leader Richard A. Gephardt and other Democratic Caucus leaders, each of the 206 Democratic members of Congress is being asked to donate at least $500 to Sanchez’s election “Recount Fund.”

House Republicans have been reluctant to raise money on behalf of former Rep. Robert K. Dornan, who is trying to reclaim his seat through an election challenge.

The National Republican Congressional Committee has turned down his requests for help raising money for the fight before the House, said Mike Schroeder, Dornan’s attorney. “They didn’t give a specific reason why they have not helped,” Schroeder said.

The fight over Orange County’s 46th Congressional District extends beyond the political careers of Sanchez and Dornan, as the stepped-up defense by the Democrats indicates.

It is a congressional seat the Republicans did not want to lose in a legendary GOP stronghold and one the Democrats want to hold on to after it unexpectedly fell into their hands after November’s election.

Dornan and Sanchez have spent about $300,000 each on the election recount and the subsequent election challenge that Dornan filed. The former Garden Grove congressman is attempting to prove that voting by noncitizens cost him the election, which he lost by 984 votes.

The letter to Democratic House members says Sanchez has spent more than $200,000 on legal bills alone.

“Because the Republicans are likely to extend this case until the end of summer, the possibility of Loretta having to spend another $200,000 is very real,” according to the letter. “Loretta needs and deserves our help.”

The letter was signed by Gephardt of Missouri, Minority Whip David E. Bonier of Michigan, Caucus Chairman Vic Fazio of Sacramento, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Martin Frost of Texas and Caucus Vice Chairman Barbara Kennelly of Connecticut.

Federal law places no limit on contributions individuals and political action committees can make to support post-election fights like the one between Dornan and Sanchez, and the donations do not have to be publicly reported. Corporations and unions, however, cannot make contributions.

Dornan is raising money for his case through his congressional campaign committee, which is subject to limits set by the Federal Elections Commission of $1,000 for individuals and $5,000 for PACs, and a separate fund to contest the election, Schroeder said.

He recently began soliciting donations through his Web site.