Hector De La Torre is framing California’s newly redrawn 41st Congressional District as familiar political ground, calling the district “my backyard” as he campaigns for one of the state’s closely watched midterm races.
The 41st District, redrawn last year under Proposition 50, has become a key battleground after shifting from a Republican-leaning area to a more Democratic-leaning district. With no clear incumbent dominating the race, the seat is being viewed as a wide-open contest.
De La Torre, 58, a Democrat and
former California Assemblymember, emphasized his deep ties to the area during an interview with The Korea Daily on May 19.
“Thirty percent of the 41st District is territory I previously represented in the State Assembly, and the Gateway Cities Council of Governments, where I currently work, includes 83% of the district,” De La Torre said.
De La Torre served in the California State Assembly from 2004 to 2010. During that time, he said he focused on protecting health insurance consumers and strengthening anti-corruption measures, helping pass about 30 bills. He currently serves as executive director of the Gateway Cities Council of Governments, which represents 27 cities and 11 unincorporated communities in Southern California.
“Washington, D.C. has spent more than 10 years doing nothing but fighting,” De La Torre said. “I decided to run again because we need to shift the conversation toward a positive agenda that improves people’s quality of life.”
His campaign priorities include anti-corruption, health care, infrastructure, housing and lowering energy costs. On infrastructure, De La Torre said the issue should be understood broadly.
“Infrastructure means everything that allows residents and businesses to succeed, including fiber-optic networks, housing and energy,” he said.
One of his main rivals is expected to be Rep. Linda Sánchez, who currently represents California’s 38th District. The two previously faced each other in a 2002 congressional race.
De La Torre argued that his local roots and legislative record give him an advantage.
“Rep. Sánchez has been in Congress for 24 years, but she does not have much to point to as her own accomplishment,” he said. “I passed about 30 bills in six years in the California Assembly.”
He also pointed to endorsements from former members of Congress, including Henry Waxman and Alan Lowenthal, who served alongside Sánchez but are backing him in this race.
De La Torre identified the high cost of living as the most urgent issue facing the 41st District. He said his focus would be on lowering costs that directly affect household budgets, including energy, health insurance and housing.
He also pledged to support stronger U.S.-Korea relations if elected.
“I want to support the strong relationship between the United States and South Korea,” De La Torre said, adding that he would be willing to work with Republican Rep. Young Kim on the issue.
“I am a pragmatist,” he said. “I will work with anyone who wants to solve problems.”
