Hector De La Torre announces run for new 41st Congressional District
Hector De La Torre, current executive director of the Gateway Cities Council of Governments and a longtime community leader, announced he is running for the newly drawn and open 41st Congressional District in California.
“Hector De La Torre is the kind of leader we need to bring change—effective, in touch with the needs of our communities, and capable of delivering results,” said retired Rep. Alan Lowenthal, who represented nearly half of the new district. “In these challenging times we need new ideas and new leaders. We need Hector De La Torre in Congress.”
De La Torre has led efforts to root out corruption in South Gate, create scholarships for at-risk students, stand up to insurance companies to protect patient coverage, and improve health care access for underserved communities across Los Angeles County.
He also serves on the California Air Resources Board, where he has focused on fighting climate change and protecting low-income communities from bearing a disproportionate burden of pollution.
“We need leaders who will work for us and pay attention to the needs of our communities, not the special interests in Washington, D.C. I’ve spent my entire career fighting for our local communities, and Hector De La Torre is the one I trust to work and make a difference for us,” said retired Rep. Grace Napolitano, who represented a significant portion of the district for more than two decades.
“Washington, D.C., isn’t responsive to our needs and isn’t providing solutions to the challenges we face,” De La Torre said. “I will use my decades of on-the-ground problem-solving experience to address the real issues facing our communities: affordability, housing, and jobs. I will be your voice in Washington, using my experience to prioritize your needs.”
De La Torre grew up and raised his family in Southeast Los Angeles. He led the historic recall of corrupt politician Albert Robles, fought against taxpayer-funded giveaways during California’s budget crisis, and has been a regional leader in health care, environmental protection, and economic development.
The new, post–Prop 50 41st Congressional District is mostly in Los Angeles County and includes the following major cities and areas: Downey (14%), Whittier (12%), Lakewood (9%), Bellflower (9%), La Habra (8%), South Whittier (7%), La Mirada (7%), Norwalk (6%), Long Beach (5%), Brea (4%), Bell Gardens (4%), Pico Rivera (3%), Fullerton (2%), Santa Fe Springs (2%), Rossmoor (2%), East Whittier (1%), Los Alamitos (1%), and Seal Beach (1%).
The district contains portions of pre–Prop 50 Congressional Districts 38, 42, 45, 44, and 47.