Lou Correa – Class of 1976

A role model and mentor to today’s Colonists, Class of ’76 graduate Lou Correa has dedicated his life to public service, always being there for his constituents, as well has his family, friends and fellow alumni.

Lou has served as a U.S. Congressman for California’s 46th District since 2017 and will enter his sixth term in January of 2027. He represents the Cities of Santa Ana, Anaheim, Orange, Stanton, and Fullerton. He serves on the House Judiciary Committee, as well as the House Homeland Security Committee, and is the Ranking Member of the House Border Security Subcommittee and is the Senior Whip of the House Democratic Caucus. He has also served on the U.S. House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and is committed to veterans receive the benefits they deserve for defending our country.

A former California State Assemblyman and Senator, Lou credits his success to his education and the Anaheim public school system, where he attended Benjamin Franklin Elementary, Fremont Junior High, and Anaheim High School. Lou graduated from California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) with a degree in Economics. Always striving for more, he returned to college and earned his Juris Doctor and a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

Lou always remembers his humble roots and often speaks about the hardships his family overcame during his youth. His mother cleaned hotel rooms across from Disneyland, and his father held a manufacturing job at a paper mill, where Lou worked in the summers when on school break. Through hard work, Lou’s parents gave him access to better education than they had, and a path to the middle class. While at AHS, Lou was a scholar athlete, excelling in science and in track as both a long-distance runner and sprinter. Lou was also a member of the school’s ROTC.

Before becoming a legislator, Lou taught in the Rancho Santiago Community College District, was an investment banker, real estate broker, and earned licenses with the California Real Estate Board and the California State Bar.

His long career as a community leader includes serving on the boards of the OC Community Development Council, the OC Anti-Poverty Council, the California Small Business Board and the Orange County Boy Scouts.

Lou’s political history includes three terms as a California Assemblyman from 1998 to 2004. He left the State Legislature due to term limits, then ran in 2004 for the OC Board of Supervisors and was elected to representing District 1, becoming the first Democrat to serve on the board since 1987. In January 2006, Correa entered the race for the California State Senate 34th District and was elected to represent District 34, which included the cities of Anaheim, Buena Park, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Santa Ana, Stanton and Westminster.

In recognition of his hard work and strong commitment to his constituents, Lou has received numerous awards and been recognized as Legislator of the Year from the California Coalition of Nurse Practitioners, California State Firefighters’ Association, Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of California, and many other organizations.

Lou lives in Santa Ana with his wife of 20 years, Dr. Esther Correa, and their four children, Alex, Andres, Adan and Emilia.