Dornan Launches Bid to Regain Seat From Sanchez

Kicking off what promises to be an expensive and rancorous campaign on both sides, Robert K. Dornan on Saturday announced a nine-month fight to win back his seat in Congress from Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Garden Grove).

The declaration came two days after Sanchez announced for reelection and Congress turned aside Dornan’s 15-month challenge to her 984-vote victory in 1996. The Republican-dominated Congress said it had uncovered voting by noncitizens and other irregularities, but too few to cast doubt on the result.

Speaking in a small tent during a downpour to about two dozen family members and supporters, Dornan began his 11th campaign for Congress by reciting a litany of World War II battles and vowing a warrior’s challenge to Sanchez, whom he claimed he had “treated with kid gloves” in 1996.

“I start as an underdog,” he said. “I’m a fighter pilot. . . . I like to play offense.” Dornan flew fighters for the Air Force during peace time.

Both sides said Saturday that they expected to spend at least $2.5 million each, much of it on direct mail and television. Sanchez has raised about $1 million and has about $600,000 on hand, while Dornan has raised $1.4 million and has about $300,000 in cash. Both expect Congress to reimburse about $400,000 each in legal expenses for the just-ended contested election battle.

Dornan first must win the GOP nomination against Superior Court Judge James L. Gray, lawyer Lisa Hughes and Anaheim City Councilman Bob Zemel.