Joanna Weiss, a Democratic community organizer, is the latest to jump into the race for California’s 47th congressional district.

The founder of the progressive grassroots organization, Women for American Values and Ethics (WAVE) Action Fund, Weiss announced her candidacy in a video message on Wednesday, Feb. 8, vowing to advocate for affordable housing, reduce homelessness, address climate change and protect women’s rights.

“I am running because we need fresh new leaders who are focused on the big challenges we face as a country and here in Orange County,” Weiss said in the video.

The coastal CA-47 spans from Seal Beach down to Laguna Beach and includes Irvine.

She joins fellow Democrats, former Rep. Harley Rouda and state Sen. Dave Min, as well as the former Republican Assembly leader Scott Baugh in the race for the seat left open by Rep. Katie Porter’s bid for U.S. Senate.

Weiss is a former litigator who taught pre-trial civil procedure and public interest lawyering at Chapman University School of Law.

She founded WAVE in 2016 which has backed several local Democratic candidates in Orange County, including Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris, Irvine Councilmember Kathleen Treseder and former Orange County Board of Education Trustee Beckie Gomez.

WAVE also backed Min for state Senate in 2020.

Congressional District 47 #CA47 needs a fresh new leader who is focused on the big challenges we face as a country and here in Orange County. Today, I’m proud to announce my candidacy for Congress. Join me at https://t.co/n589z11JUs pic.twitter.com/j79QF65v5h

— Joanna Weiss (@joannajweiss) February 8, 2023

Brooke Staggs contributed to this report.

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