Sanchez Builds Huge Lead in Money Race

In the first glimpse of how expensive the race for the 46th Congressional District will be, Rep. Loretta Sanchez has raised almost $1 million to face challengers.

With the announcement on Tuesday that former Rep. Robert K. Dornan might not run against Sanchez (D-Garden Grove) in the November election, Sanchez has raised significantly more than any of her likely opponents.

Sanchez’s report, covering all of 1997, shows she raised $920,780, with $597,250 cash on hand.

By contrast, Dornan had raised $1.4 million, with $275,499 in hand, according to his report. After Sanchez won the seat in 1996 by 984 votes, Dornan challenged the result in Congress, claiming the election was tainted by the votes of noncitizens and other balloting irregularities.

The task force investigating the challenge will recommend today that the House dismiss Dornan’s claim, said Rep. Vernon J. Ehlers (R-Mich.), chairman of the task force.

Three other Republicans have declared to run in the June primary and have raised considerable amounts.

* Lawyer Lisa Hughes, who raised $102,533 from contributors, has $130,387 in cash after loaning her campaign $115,000. The bulk of her contributions came in the past six months from Orange County donors, said her campaign manager, John Theiss.

* Superior Court Judge James P. Gray has raised $63,144 and has $33,865 in cash. Gray’s money comes largely from Orange County and has been “mostly from friends, not the typical political contributors,” said campaign consultant Gene Raper.

* Anaheim City Councilman Bob Zemel has raised $62,144, and has $12,064 in cash on hand, according to his campaign. The money was largely raised within the county in the final four months of the year, said campaign officials.