Linda Sánchez

Linda Maria Sanchez is a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives, representing California's 38th congressional district. She was first elected to Congress in 2002 and took office in January 2003. Born in Orange, California, to immigrant parents from Mexico, she earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, Berkeley, and her Juris Doctor from the UCLA School of Law. Before her political career, Sanchez worked as a labor lawyer and served as the executive secretary-treasurer of the Orange County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO. In Congress, Sanchez has made history as the first Latina to serve on the House Judiciary Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee. She has held several leadership roles within the Democratic Party, including serving as the Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus from 2017 to 2019. Throughout her tenure, she has focused on labor rights, working-family issues, and consumer protection. She is the sister of former U.S. Representative Loretta Sanchez, marking the first time two sisters served simultaneously in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Representative Sanchez advocates for labor rights, including strengthening unions, raising the federal minimum wage, and improving workplace safety. She is a supporter of the Affordable Care Act and has consistently voted to protect reproductive healthcare access and expand coverage. On immigration, she supports comprehensive reform that includes a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants and permanent protections for DACA recipients. Her environmental policy includes support for transitioning to renewable energy and legislation aimed at reducing carbon emissions to address climate change. In terms of fiscal policy, she supports tax structures that benefit middle-class families and small businesses, often advocating for the expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit.