Minuteman co-founder Jim Gilchrist has taken out nomination papers to run as a Republican against Rep. Loretta Sanchez, D-Garden Grove. (H/T to theliberaloc.com for beating us to the punch on this.)
Do you think one of the nation’s best known anti-illegal immigration activists is going to have a chance in a district which includes Santa Ana, a city with the highest ratio of Spanish speakers in the U.S.?
Consider that Gilchrist lives in Aliso Viejo, which is outside of Sanchez’ district. That doesn’t prevent him from running, but he’ll face the tag of being a carpetbagger.
Consider that district is 43 percent Democrat and 36 percent Republican.
– Martin Wisckol
And consider that it’s far from certain that Republican leaders will rally behind Gilchrist, given his polarizing reputation and the fact that he ran as an American Independent for the 48th Congressional District in 2005. Republican John Campbell won that special election — Gilchrist finished third with 26 percent of the vote.
Gilchrist and Joel Story, a retired social worker who has also taken out nominating papers, have until March 7 to qualify for the GOP primary. The Republican nominee will then face an incumbent who is not only popular in her district, but already has $722,000 in campaign funds on hand.
– Martin Wisckol
It’s just a publicity stunt. There are not enough Republican in that district anymore. The 48th Congressional district will never be regained by Republicans again. Gilcrest and Joel Story should be advised to try a different Congressional District.
OH, come on! Does Gilchrist really think he has a chance?
Sanchez will probably win, She is just capitalizing on illegal immigration and the Latino Vote. Gilchrist will call it like it is and offend to many illegals. Law breakers don’t like it when you call them out on their crime.
I remember checking out the 2006 election results. Within those numbers, you could see how many people voted in each congressional district. In the 48th Congressional district, there were about 200,000 votes. In the 47th, where Sanchez sits, there were about 20,000 votes. Considering that each district has the same population, I found that very interesting.
It also means that Gilchrist wouldn’t need a whole lot of votes to over-throw her.
LORENA SANCHEZ IS THE WORST OF THE WORST BUNCH OF SELF SERVING PUNKS . THE MINUTEMAN GUY HES GOTA GOOD MISSION BUT OUR GOVERNMENT IS TAKING FOREVER TO BUILD OF LUSY 100 FOOT HIGH FENCE. A ILLEGAL FAMILY OF FOUR COST THE GOVERNMENT MILLIONS OVER A LIFETIME WAY MORE THAN THAT SAME FAMILY PAYS IN TAXES. A TOTAL BURDEN TO US TAXPAYERS AND OUR RESOURCES . ARIZONA MADE THE GREATEST PIECE OF LEGISLATION WHERE NO ILLEGAL CAN WORK THERE AT ALL. THE ILLEGAL AND GOING BACK TO MEXICO ITS A BIG SOLUTION. BUT YEAH THEY NEED TO BUILT THE DAMN FENCE . AND IM A HISPANIC DEMOCRAT.
DITTO!
Jim Gilchrist is a joke, he can’t even get along with the other Minuteman co-founders.
I ve’ been expecting something like this from him.
His immigration prevention plan was just a publicity stunt, if he really wants to do something about undocumented immigrants, he should just go to Aliso Viejo City Hall; the city hires large landscape companies to maintain their city parks and street medians with a 90% undocumented work force. I am sure he knows that, just as he knows that he doesn’t stand a chance in the 48th Congressional District.
Sanchez is just one more open borders left wing politician who will have no real competitian
I hope at least one of them qualifies to run. I would gladly contribute to a Gilchrist or Story campaign, even though I don’t live in Sanchez’s district. Her part in causing the 241 toll road extension is unforgivable. Her district has enough problems she should keep her nose out of south County.
Ken in Irvine. Thanks for setting things straight. I did not know that the voter turnout was so low in the 47th district. I had the districts confused in my last comment. He is running for the 47th district and maybe he can get a larger turnout of voters amongst Republicans. His voters would more likely vote as well. That was an interesting comment you gave!
Any one Except Sanchez (the orginal carpet bagger)
It would at least make politics interesting for short time. I can just see the illegals protesting, even though they can’t vote.
I think it would be interesting if he run against Sanchez, I wish someone would get her out of office. Most of the hispanic population that is here legally and can vote legally are in favor of stricter immigration laws. Also, if I remember correctly, wasn’t Sanchez’s husband caught taking down the signs of some running against her? Just one more of her tricks to win.
Illegal aliens cant vote and a large majority of hispanics just dont vote period. I think Gilchrist has a good chance with adequate advertising.
As the man once said, just do it!
JUST DO IT , MAKE HER FIGHT.
Well, in that district the only thing he can really challenge her to is a fight - I’d pay to see that!
JUST DO IT! MAKE HER FIGHT!
JUST DO IT! THIS WILL BE FUN!
As to the comments about the City of Aliso Viejo hiring illegals to maintain the parks and greenbelts: The City does not own most of the parks or greenbelts. They are privately owned and controlled by the Aliso Viejo Community Association (AVCA). It is the master association for the area. Dues are billed to property owners. City does not pay a dime towards it. But, I would encourage him to run for city council, instead of the mostly hand-picked appointed council members. That would be interesting, but probably too small a stage for his ego.
i say…. B-1 Bob!!!
where’s Bob Dornan!? let’s bring him back to garden grove and the good ‘ol days.
Sanchez must be getting a good laugh over this one. I used to like Gilchrist. Not anymore. His endorsement of Huckabee was the final straw. Gilchrist is using the anti-illegal immigration agenda as a personal platform for political power. The well must be running dry of donations. Otherwise you wouldn’t hear from him.
Doesn’t he still have an arrest warrant out of Arizona? Hmmm, usually politicians are arrested *after* they’ve been in office a while.
Kind of like Skokie.
Loretta grew up in Anaheim. Went to Sunkist Elementary and Katella High. As to carpetbagger, Jim Gilchrist lives in Aliso Viejo. Get your facts straight. Loretta works seven days a week Monday - Friday in Washingt on and Saturday and Sunday in the district, no other Congressperson in Orange County works harder.
That district is pretty entrenched in the party of evil. This is definitely a publicity stunt.
Who cares if she works hard? The problem is that she is working hard for the wacked out views she has to stick with to regain her votes. Its simple politics and starting to frustate the once great city. I grew up in Santa Ana, went to school in Santa Ana, got kicked out of Century High with Death threats and a best friend killed on Edinger. Now is that because I am being run out of the city being that I am white? I am tired of the consitent blind eye techniques. This city is getting ruined, not from hispanics, but from people who live and work illegally. They end up teaching their kids that doing things illegally is ok in America. And to think it doesn’t put a huge burden on city residents. Just take a walk to local schools and see whether or not your child in there is getting as good of an education as a child over in Irvine or Tustin, what 5 miles away. Maybe your kids are gone and on their own, then take a walk down the street, wait you don’t feel safe anymore. Maybe its just an emergency, then race over to St. Joes, migtht as well not race since you have to wait to get a bed since its being overrun by people having babies. I was hit last year on Seventeenth street, good thing I have my own job since the illegal had no drivers license and no insurance and the cop just let the guy, his wife, and three kids go. I get nothing, no money to fix the car, nothing except an increase in insurance rates. AND TO THINK ITS NOT COSTING US ANYTHING.
The city has let this place run down so much its a like a bad child with no parenting. Look at the local businesses, no pride in even cleaning the windows anymore… whats with all the signs… I say no pride in ownership and being an american. I hate to do this since I sound like a racists but the cheap illegal labor has to go. Half the legal mexicans are exploiting the illegals anyway… and if you yourself can’t see that taking place, you are not opening up your eyes. Mexicans are taking advantage of each other because they think this place is Mexico, its not. You say all the time that you care about your family, what the caring in someone selling you a home loan with 10% interest? What the caring in someone selling you a car on 21% interest? Mexicans are taking advantage of Mexicans and the only way to clean up the mess is to impose stricter rules on the city and local businesses and run the illegals somewhere else, somewhere else like home. That’s what all the other cities have done. They have effectively made it difficult to do business with illegals.
And for the city, I will never run my business again in this city. The damn city council allowed a check cashing center to open two doors down and put all kinds of spanish signs up effectively driving away my clientle. Now I have moved to a new city and the council members actually visit and protect their bsuinesses. To the city, put a 5 year plan on sign cleanup and make a department to approve or deny signage on the street. Start cleaning up this dump and people, successful people might bring their business back.
All Jim Gilchrist needs s a complete psychiatric work up and straight jacket.
Good. I’d like to see him beaten by a hispanic woman. It might even make him a sympathetic figure.
i hope loretta wins just so santa ana continues it’s decline. it’s so nice seeing spray paint on the walls of a once beautiful town. i also enjoy reading about the daily murders, stabbings or shootings. please OC and Santa Ana, keep re-electing the wrong people and overlooking the illegal immigrant problem.
Loretta is a beacon of hope and light in OC politics. He can try and challenge her but will never win. People in that part of OC do not believe in hate and the anti-family politics that he promotes.
Let’s take the district back! Sanchez represents her special interest constituents well. Unfortunately that’s not my family and values. I’m Mexican, and proud of it! But what really pops my buttons is being American! We should take our neighborhoods back! One block at a time. Get ready for change. I’m tired of sliding back. The Writing is on the walls (literally) 4+families in one house. How many houses in Santa Ana don’t have the garage converted into an apartment. I dont know that Gilchrist is the answer, but we need to send out the message. Go out & vote for change, starting at the local level. We can help make the difference!
Regardless of what you think of Gilchrist if your opposed to Illegal Immigration you better support and support him big. Why you ask? Because if this story is true and Gilchrist makes a run at this seat and Sanchez victory sends the signal the citizens support illegal immigration.
Dornan lost because illegal votes were counted the first time Sanchez ran. Now her district is a sanctuary district. I’d wager there are more illegals in Sanchez’s district than there are registered Republicans now. I don’t think Jim can win there anymore than he can in Tijuana, but it will put Sanchez in the illegal spotlight.
Is that a strait jacket he is wearing or a bullet proof vest. Hard to tell.
bob dornan anyone?
Sanchez is a dirtbag! self serving criminal lover!
we the people should take one nieborhood at a time with our votes hu? well you better hope that the hispanics that are eligible to vote dont actually wake up one day and ejercise thier rights! because then you will really hear from we the majority and not the so called minority!
I’M BEHIND GILCHRIST ALL THE WAY. He’s my HERO. But I doubt he’ll win. I think he’s doing sacrificial politics.
YES I WILL FIGHT HER
This will be interesting to watch. How just saying the name of a single issue canidate brings out of much fear is amazing.
I wonder who the ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER will endorse?
Wisckol responds: The Register typically does not endorse candidates.
the register endorses illegal immigrants EVERY chance it gets.Just ask your readers.
Is this guy crazy? He doesn’t even live in the area and lives in south county and wants to represent people from this district? Sounds like a loser that doesn’t have anything better to do but gripe out illegals.