The West Coast met the East Coast on Saturday, October 17 when U.S. Representative  Loretta Sanchez (CA-47) stormed across New Jersey rallying Latina women and Latino business owners’ support for Governor Jon S. Corzine, Senator Loretta Weinberg and New Jersey Democrats in the upcoming election.

Sanchez attended an Elk’s lodge breakfast, a meeting with the Mexican Chamber of Commerce, a business meet and greet in Harrison and two Latina luncheons in Paterson and Elizabeth, where she was joined by Assemblywomen Nellie Pou and Annette Quijano.  As a member of the federal Joint Economic Committee, which continually monitors matters relating to the US economy, the Congresswoman also commended the Governor’s efforts in protecting New Jersey residents from the worst of the global economic crisis, specifically his first-in-the-nation economic recovery plan.

Check out photos from a Latina luncheon at the Paterson Museum:



Sanchez, who is Vice Chair of the House Homeland Security Committee and the ranking female member of the House Armed Services Committee, praised the efforts of Democrats and Governor Corzine to promote New Jersey Latino businesses and protect Latinas.

“Jon Corzine and New Jersey Democrats are protecting and promoting what matters most to the Latino community in New Jersey,” said Sanchez.  “The Governor should be commended for his efforts to ensure that minorities and women benefit from stimulus funding, his backing of the creation of a state Office of Immigrant Affairs and his unqualified support of paid family leave and a woman’s right to choose.”

“New Jersey Democrats are working for what matters most to Latinos in the state,” said Pou (D-Passaic) the chairwoman of the New Jersey Legislative Latino Caucus.  “Latino contributions help enrich both the state and the party and we must do all that we can to re-elect the Governor and elect Senator Weinberg and New Jersey Democrats so that we can keep the state moving in the right direction.”

Latinos currently comprise the largest minority group in the state, making up more than 16 percent of the population according to 2009 Census figures, a population concentration that outpaces the national percentage.

Currently, Congresswoman Sanchez is serving her seventh term in the U.S. House of Representatives.  A recognized leader on national security, intelligence and counterterrorism, she has provided guidance to the federal Department of Homeland Security on critical issues, including combating human, weapons and drug trafficking and ensuring cooperation between agencies on national security issues.