Lou Correa

Lou Correa
Born	Jose Luis Correa 24 1, 1958
Birthplace	East Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, businessman
Education	University of California, Los Angeles (JD, MBA)
Children	4
Website	[https://correa.house.gov/ Official site]

Jose Luis "Lou" Correa (born January 24, 1958) is an American politician and businessman serving as the U.S. representative for California's 46th congressional district since January 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, Correa represents a district that encompasses most of the majority-Hispanic areas of Orange County, California, including most of Anaheim, all of Santa Ana, and parts of the city of Orange. Born and raised in the working-class neighborhoods of East Los Angeles, Correa built a career that spanned investment banking, real estate, and college instruction before entering public service. His political career has included service in the California State Assembly, the Orange County Board of Supervisors, and the California State Senate, where he represented the 34th district from 2006 to 2014. In Congress, Correa has focused on immigration policy, consumer protection, and human rights issues, and is a member of several caucuses including the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, the Blue Dog Coalition, and the New Democrat Coalition.

Early Life

Lou Correa was born Jose Luis Correa on January 24, 1958, in East Los Angeles, an unincorporated community in Los Angeles County, California. He grew up in a working-class environment in the predominantly Latino neighborhoods of East Los Angeles. Before entering politics, Correa pursued a multifaceted professional career. He worked as an investment banker and a real estate broker, gaining experience in the private sector that would later inform his policy positions on economic and business matters. He also served as a college instructor.

Education

Correa attended California State University, Fullerton, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. He continued his education at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he obtained both a Juris Doctor (JD) degree and a Master of Business Administration (MBA). His dual graduate degrees in law and business provided the foundation for his subsequent careers in investment banking, real estate, and public service.

Career

California State Assembly (1998–2004)

Correa began his career in elected office when he won a seat in the California State Assembly, representing the 69th district. He took office on December 7, 1998, succeeding Jim Morrissey. He served in the Assembly until December 6, 2004, when he was succeeded by Tom Umberg. During his time in the Assembly, Correa represented a district within Orange County, establishing himself as a Democratic voice in a county that had traditionally been a Republican stronghold.

Orange County Board of Supervisors (2005–2006)

Following his tenure in the State Assembly, Correa was elected to the Orange County Board of Supervisors, representing the 1st district. He took office on January 3, 2005, succeeding Charles V. Smith. His time on the Board of Supervisors was relatively brief, as he departed on December 4, 2006, to take up a seat in the California State Senate. He was succeeded on the Board by Janet Nguyen.

California State Senate (2006–2014)

Correa won election to the California State Senate in 2006, representing the 34th district. He succeeded Joe Dunn and took office on December 4, 2006. He served in the State Senate for two terms, until December 1, 2014, at which point he was succeeded by Janet Nguyen.

During his time in the State Senate, Correa developed a reputation as a moderate Democrat within the California Legislature. His district encompassed significant portions of Orange County, and he navigated the political landscape of a historically Republican-leaning region while maintaining his Democratic affiliation.

In 2011, Correa was the subject of an erroneous wage garnishment by a debt collector, an incident that was covered by the Orange County Register.

2014 State Senate Race

The 2014 election cycle saw Correa's State Senate seat contested. Correa was term-limited and could not seek re-election. The race to succeed him was covered by the Orange County Register, which reported on the contest between candidates including Lynn Daucher and others vying for the 34th district seat. Janet Nguyen, a Republican, ultimately won the seat.

U.S. House of Representatives (2017–present)

2016 Election

In 2016, Correa ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in California's 46th congressional district, seeking to succeed Loretta Sánchez, who had vacated the seat to run for the U.S. Senate. The Los Angeles Times covered Correa's campaign and his prospects for the Orange County congressional seat. Correa won the election and took office on January 3, 2017.

Congressional Caucus Memberships

In Congress, Correa has aligned himself with several caucuses that reflect his centrist-leaning Democratic politics and his commitment to representing the diverse constituents of his Orange County district. He is a member of the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of fiscally moderate Democrats. He also belongs to the New Democrat Coalition, which advocates for pro-growth, moderate policies.

Correa is a member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, reflecting his role as a representative of a majority-Hispanic district and his focus on issues affecting Latino communities. He also serves as a member of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus and the Problem Solvers Caucus, a bipartisan group of lawmakers who seek to bridge partisan divides on key policy issues. Additionally, Correa is a member of the House Baltic Caucus.

Correa has been described as part of "Los Tres Amigos," a close-knit group of Democratic lawmakers who generally agree on many issues.

Immigration Policy

Immigration has been a central policy focus throughout Correa's congressional tenure. Representing a majority-Hispanic district in Orange County, Correa has been involved in advocacy related to immigrant communities and immigration enforcement. In 2025, Correa offered advice to city officials in Santa Ana, Orange County's only sanctuary city, regarding how to navigate increased federal attention on immigration enforcement.

In October 2025, Correa addressed questions from constituents about immigration policy and congressional spending obligations. His office stated that it was working to monitor cases of American citizens whose rights had been violated and to keep track of such incidents.

Correa voted against the SAVE America Act, which he characterized as voter suppression legislation.

Human Rights Advocacy

Correa has engaged in international human rights advocacy during his time in Congress. In December 2025, he announced the adoption of Le Dinh Luong, a pro-democracy human rights defender in Vietnam, as a prisoner of conscience. Le Dinh Luong had been sentenced to 20 years in prison and 5 years of house arrest for his human rights work in Vietnam.

Consumer Protection and Environmental Legislation

In February 2026, Correa joined with Representative Dan Meuser (R-PA) to introduce bipartisan legislation aimed at combating predatory online scammers, known as the Safeguarding Consumers from Online Scams Act. The legislation reflected Correa's bipartisan approach and his membership in the Problem Solvers Caucus.

In December 2025, Correa introduced a Design for Recycling Resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives. The resolution received endorsements from numerous industry associations and non-governmental organizations.

Community Engagement

Correa has maintained active engagement with his district's communities through various programs. In December 2025, he announced Xiong Yi, a student at Fairmont Prep Academy in Anaheim, as the winner of the Congressional App Challenge for the 46th district.

Personal Life

Lou Correa has four children. He resides in Orange County, California, the region he has represented in various elected capacities since 1998. His personal background as a Mexican-American raised in East Los Angeles has informed his policy focus on issues affecting Latino and immigrant communities throughout his career.