Biography
Linda Teresa Sánchez, born on January 28, 1969, in Orange, California, is an American politician and former labor lawyer serving as the U.S. Representative for California's 38th congressional district. She was first elected to Congress in 2002, representing the 39th district, and has been a member of the Democratic Party throughout her tenure. Sánchez is the younger sister of former U.S. Representative Loretta Sánchez; together, they are the first sisters to have served simultaneously in Congress.
Raised in a working-class family by Mexican immigrant parents—her father, Ignacio, an industrial machinist, and her mother, Maria, an elementary school teacher—Sánchez was instilled with a strong work ethic and commitment to community service. She is a proud mother to her son, Joaquín, born in 2009, and they reside with their dog, Scully.
Education and Political Experience
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Education:
- Bachelor of Arts in Spanish Literature with an emphasis in bilingual education from the University of California, Berkeley.
- Juris Doctor from the University of California, Los Angeles, in 1995.
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Political Experience:
- Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2002, representing California's 39th district; following redistricting, she has represented the 38th district since 2013.
- First Latina to serve on the House Committee on Ways and Means and the House Judiciary Committee.
- Served as Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus during the 114th Congress.
- Elected Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus for the 115th Congress, becoming the first woman of color to hold a leadership position in Congress.
- In 2024, became the first Latina and woman of color to serve as a ranking member on a Ways and Means subcommittee.
- Elected as the first woman to chair the Congressional Hispanic Caucus BOLD PAC in 2023.
Throughout her career, Sánchez has been a steadfast advocate for working families, focusing on issues such as education reform, healthcare access, and labor rights. Her legislative efforts include improving school safety, supporting small businesses, and enhancing mental health coverage related to opioid addiction recovery.
