With Senate campaign heating up, Sanchez has a chance to respond to Harris

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Former Rep. Barney Frank of Massachusetts speaks at the California Democratic Party Convention in Anaheim.

(Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)

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U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles), second from left, mingles at the California Democratic Party Convention in Anaheim.

(Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)

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Nicholas Meyerson jumps into the air with signs in support of Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris and her Senate campaign as she speaks at the California Democratic Party Convention in Anaheim.

(Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)

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A woman wears a hat touting Elizabeth Warren for president at the California Democratic Party Convention in Anaheim.

(Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)

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California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones speaks at the California Democratic Party Convention in Anaheim.

(Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)

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Posters supporting the U.S. Senate campaign of Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Santa Ana) are displayed at her booth at the California Democratic Party Convention in Anaheim.

(Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)

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Kamala Harris, candidate for U.S. Senate, speaks at the California Democratic convention in Anaheim on Saturday.

(Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)

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Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Santa Ana), left, a candidate for the U.S. Senate, cheers with Chapman University Democrats’ Katerina Ioannides during the Margaritas and Mambo! campaign event at the California Democratic Party Convention in Anaheim.

(Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)

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Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Santa Ana) campaigns for the U.S. Senate during the Margaritas and Mambo! event at the California Democratic Party Convention in Anaheim.

(Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)

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House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi’s 6-year-old granddaughter, Bella Kaufman, holds up a sign and shouts her support for her grandmother.

(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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People applaud as California Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris takes the stage to speak about her U.S. Senate campaign during the California Democratic Party Convention in Anaheim.

(Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)

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California Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris talks about her U.S. Senate campaign during her address to the California Democratic Party Convention in Anaheim.

(Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)

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California Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris addresses the crowd at California Democratic Party Convention in Anaheim.

(Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)

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California Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris takes questions from the media after speaking at the state Democratic convention in Anaheim on Saturday.

(Damian Dovarganes / Associated Press)

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“Run Warren Run” merchandise being sold before the first panels at the Democratic convention in Anaheim on Saturday.

(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren takes the stage with party Chairnan John Burton at the California Democratic Party Convention on Saturday.

(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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The United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners rallies against Obama’s trade proposal in front of the California Democratic Convention in Anaheim on Saturday.

(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts addresses the California Democratic Party Convention.

(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) addresses the California Democratic Party convention.

(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom addresses California Democratic Party convention.

(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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Attendee Dr. Harinder Grewal has his picture taken during the California Democratic Party convention at the Anaheim Convention Center on Friday.

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Attendees take a break during the California Democratic Party convention at the Anaheim Convention Center Friday.

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Theresa Born, 30, with her 9-year-old daughter Melanie rally against mandatory vaccination at California Democratic Convention in Anaheim on Saturday.

(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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Exhibitor Ereann Freeland sets up a booth at the California Democratic state convention on Friday, May 15, 2015.

(Jae C. Hong / Associated Press)

By Michael FinneganStaff Writer

May 17, 2015 8 AM PT

A day after Kamala Harris told a few thousand Democrats at a state party gathering in Anaheim why they should back her for U.S. Senate, her chief rival, Loretta Sanchez, will get a chance Sunday morning to do the same.

Sanchez is scheduled to be one of the last speakers Sunday morning in Anaheim at a state party convention that featured rallies on vaccines and trade, along with a margarita and mambo party with the Orange County congresswoman.

With many delegates already gone by Sunday morning, Sanchez’s speaking slot is not ideal.

LIVE UPDATES: Coverage from the convention

But were it not for the good fortune of the party holding its annual gathering in her congressional district, Sanchez would have been relegated to speaking only to smaller party caucus groups.

Harris, the state attorney general, was automatically given a prime Saturday afternoon spot thanks to her status as a statewide elected official.

The burgeoning Senate contest – Sanchez entered the race Thursday – has been the highlight of the convention, with another Democrat, Rep. Xavier Becerra of Los Angeles, working the crowd over the weekend as he explores whether to run.

Both Sanchez and Harris are liberal Democrats whose policy contrasts appear to be minimal. Harris used her speaking time Saturday to lay out a broad federal agenda, including an increase in the federal minimum wage, new tuition aid for college students and a path to citizenship for immigrants in the country illegally.

Sanchez is likely to stress her more than 18 years of experience in Congress, particularly on foreign affairs.

The speech will also give her a chance to try to recover from a stumble on Saturday, when she offended some delegates by tapping her hand to her mouth in an imitation of a war cry as she was talking about Native Americans.

@finneganLAT

With Senate campaign heating up, Sanchez has a chance to respond to Harris

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