U.S. Congressman Alan Lowenthal, whose 47th Congressional district has included Los Alamitos and Rossmoor for the past four terms, announced he will not seek re-election in the 2022 elections.
Lowenthal, who will turn 81 this March, started his political career as a volunteer on Adlai Stevenson’s unsuccessful Presidential campaign in 1956. His first elected office came in 1991 when he was elected to the Long Beach City Council. He served in the California State Assembly from 1998 to 2004, representing the 54th district, and then as a member of the California State Senate, representing the 27th district from 2004 to 2012.
He becomes the 20th Democratic member to announce his retirement from the House this cycle, and his decision could have been made in part due to the fact his district would have changed dramatically in 2022. The 2020 census resulted in California losing a Congressional seat for the very first time and in effect, large parts of Lowenthal’s 47th District and Lucille Roybal-Allard’s adjoining district were rolled into one district In the most recently-announced maps, Lowenthal’s area would retain only ins Long Beach area and lose its Orange County territory and take in Roybal’s North Long Beach area, Bellflower and Downey. Los Al and Rossmoor would be in a new district that would include most of North Orange County, except for Anaheim and Huntington Beach. Republican Young Kim currently represents that area.
Lowenthal’s office released an official statement which was reprinted in the OC Breeze. In it he said, “It is time to pass the baton. It is time to rest and surround myself with the benefits of a life well-lived and earned honorably in the service of my fellow citizens.
“During this journey, I have had the pleasure of raising two fine sons who have blessed me with four grandchildren who I adore. I now look forward to spending my time with them and watching them grow and flourish into wonderful people like their parents.”
