Gingrich Vows to Back Dornan for House Seat

Robert K. Dornan got the call Friday he’s been waiting for: House Speaker Newt Gingrich invited him to a Republican unity rally Monday in Costa Mesa and pledged his support for Dornan’s campaign to regain his congressional seat.

Dornan said Gingrich promised to push for reimbursement of the Garden Grove candidate’s costs for challenging the 1996 election, in which Democrat Loretta Sanchez upset Dornan by a slim margin in the central Orange County district.

Earlier this week, House leadership said that neither Dornan nor Sanchez would be reimbursed. But Jason Poblete, spokesman for the House Oversight Committee, said Friday that the committee will make that final determination.

A decision isn’t expected until July 14.

Dornan, who said his campaign is nearly out of money, is seeking $464,000.

Sanchez has asked for $421,000 to cover her costs in defeating Dornan’s challenge. She can’t use that money for her campaign because it came from a separate account, but she has about $1 million in her war chest.

Dornan contested the election on the grounds that 2,500 illegal votes were cast, including those from Latino voters who registered before becoming U.S. citizens. A House committee found that 748 improper votes were cast, not enough to overturn the 984-vote margin.

Gingrich could not be reached for comment.