Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis is operating for Congress — ought to voters later this 12 months OK a mid-cycle redistricting proposal that can change congressional district boundaries for the following three elections.
Solis is operating for what could be California’s thirty eighth Congressional District, ought to voters go Proposition 50, her marketing campaign completely instructed the Southern California Information Group on Thursday.
Solis, a veteran politician within the space whose Board of Supervisors district spans from East L.A. by way of the San Gabriel Valley, fashioned a marketing campaign committee referred to as Hilda Solis for Congress on Wednesday, Aug. 27, in keeping with the Federal Election Fee.
Solis beforehand served within the Home and as a U.S. Division of Labor secretary below the Obama administration, and her marketing campaign is touting her prolonged political resume, billing Solis as a “confirmed fighter” who might signify the brand new district.
“The working individuals of Southern California are below assault by the Trump administration — and I received’t simply stand by and let it occur,” Solis mentioned in an announcement Thursday.
“Because the president assaults staff, immigrants, educators, housing that working individuals can afford, girls’s reproductive rights, veterans’ providers, labor unions, the Reasonably priced Care Act, Medicaid/Medi-Cal and democracy itself, we should combat again,” Solis added. “I’ve been standing up for the individuals — and towards Trump — as a supervisor, and now it’s time to marketing campaign for the Home and combat for the individuals and democracy within the Congress.”
Earlier than Solis made it official, pundits buzzed for weeks that she’s been making calls to allies concerning the viability of a return to Washington, D.C., to function the consultant for the thirty eighth Congressional District, based mostly on proposed congressional maps that received’t take impact until California voters approve them in a November particular election.
The proposed thirty eighth District sweeps round L.A. County to incorporate Bell, Commerce, El Monte, Diamond Bar, Hacienda Heights, Montebello, Pico Rivera and West Whittier. It will additionally choose up Yorba Linda in Orange County.
This district, in keeping with the proposed maps, would come with 45% registered Democratic voters, 30% no social gathering desire/different and 24% Republican.
The proposed partisan maps are supposed to offset Republican good points in Texas, the place at President Donald Trump’s behest, that state’s Republican-led legislature final week accepted a structure that may bolster the variety of GOP seats in Congress, to create an edge for Republicans in subsequent 12 months’s midterm elections.
In anticipation of that very motion by Texas Republicans, the California Legislature final week accepted new gerrymandered maps that favor Democrats. The California maps, nonetheless, received’t take impact until voters within the state give the OK, and they’d solely be in place for the 2026, 2028 and 2030 elections. After that, California could be again to utilizing an unbiased fee to attract congressional boundary strains.
“I want Proposition 50 wasn’t obligatory — however Trump and his allies in Texas and throughout the nation are undermining our democracy. We should combat fireplace with fireplace, as a result of an excessive amount of is at stake,” Solis mentioned.
Solis was in El Monte on Thursday to advertise a “Restaurant Week” occasion. She didn’t announce her candidacy then, however mentioned individuals wish to see authorities reform, with a selected emphasis on immigration.
“They wish to see that they’ve safety, security, and that they’re taken care of they usually’re not picked on and harassed simply due to how they appear, and that as a result of they appear to be they’re overseas, however they’re not,” she mentioned.
“This complete nation was made up of immigrants, and that’s our power and wonder.”
Whereas Solis, 67, has spent 11 years on the non-partisan Board of Supervisors, she could be no stranger to the nationwide scene. She served within the U.S. Home of Representatives within the early 2000s, representing the San Gabriel Valley, earlier than President Barack Obama selected her to affix his Cupboard as secretary of labor in 2009.
Raised in La Puente to immigrant mother and father, Solis grew to become an early advocate for employee rights, a theme that may proceed by way of her years in public service, from the Rio Hondo Board of Trustees to the California Legislature to Congress.
In L.A. County, the realm has lengthy skewed majority Democratic. Blue districts get bluer, below the brand new proposed maps. Specialists count on a Democrat to win the seat it doesn’t matter what.
Given Solis’ title recognition and footing within the space, she could be extremely favored.
“I feel Hilda Solis is a power of nature that can positively be the frontrunner for this seat,” mentioned Michael Trujillo, a Democratic strategist.
However, he added, throughout the nation, high-profile, long-established Democratic leaders have seen challenges, usually from their left, corresponding to within the San Fernando Valley, the place Rep. Brad Sherman is being challenged.
“I wouldn’t be shocked, based mostly on the nationwide developments we’ve been seeing,” Trujillo mentioned of a possible challenger to Solis.
Solis already has the backing of a number of outstanding native elected Democratic officers, her marketing campaign famous, together with Reps. Judy Chu, Lou Correa, Laura Friedman, Robert Garcia and Luz Rivas. She additionally has the backing of L.A. Mayor Karen Bass, Sheriff Robert Luna, State Senate Majority Chief Lena Gonzalez and Dolores Huerta, co-founder of United Farm Employees of America.
