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Loretta Sanchez Retains Her Congressional Seat

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Southern California Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez has held onto her seat after a bruising fight against a well-funded Republican opponent.

Sanchez secured an eighth term in Orange County's 47th Congressional District, defeating state Assemblyman Van Tran in Tuesday's balloting.

Republicans had hoped that Tran, a Vietnamese-American, would appeal to the district's large Asian population. He also received significant support from the GOP leadership.

Sanchez suffered a setback in September when she gave a national TV interview in Spanish and said "the Vietnamese" and Republicans were trying to take her seat. She later apologized.

Democrats maintain a 15-point registration lead in the 47th District.

(© Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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