State Sen. Ted Lieu (D-Torrance) announced on Friday that he will run for Congress to succeed longtime Rep. Henry Waxman, who is retiring after 40 years in the House.
“Congressmember Henry Waxman is a living legend. Our nation owes a profound debt of gratitude for his remarkable leadership on issues ranging from the environment to foreign policy to health care,” Lieu said.
“I am running because I love America. But our nation can do better. I have made the hard choices that helped turn California’s budget deficit into a budget surplus; fought to protect our environment; co-authored legislation to divest California’s pension funds from Iran’s energy and nuclear industries; and authored landmark civil rights legislation. I will fight hard for my constituents in Congress as I have done in the State Senate.”
Former Los Angeles City Controller Wendy Greuel, who ran for mayor last year, has also announced that she will run for the 33rd Congressional District seat. The election to succeed Waxman is expected to draw many candidates in what is likely to be an expensive and highly contested race.
Lieu’s 28th Senate District includes more than 80 percent of the 33rd Congressional District, which covers Palos Verdes, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica and Malibu.
He was elected in a 2011 special election, succeeding the late Jenny Oropeza. He served in the Assembly from 2005-2010.
Lieu released a list of endorsements from current and former elected officials:
Reps. Alan Lowenthal and Maxine Waters
State Controller John Chiang
State Board of Equalization member Jerome Horton
L.A. City Councilmembers Mike Bonin, Paul Koretz and Bill Rosendahl (retired)
State Senate President Pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg
State Sens. Kevin de Leon, Ricardo Lara and Holly Mitchell
Assemblymembers Isadore Hall and Sebastian Ridley-Thomas
El Camino Community College District Trustee Cliff Numark
Hermosa Beach Mayor Michael DiVirgilio
Hermosa Beach Mayor pro Tem Peter Tucker
Palos Verdes Estates City Councilmember George Bird Jr.
Rancho Palos Verdes Mayor pro Tem Jim Knight
Rolling Hills Estates Mayor Judy Mitchell
Redondo Beach City Councilmember Bill Brand
Torrance City Councilmembers Kurt Weideman and Hope Witkowsky (retired)
West Basin Municipal Water District Board member Carol Kwan
Water Replenishment District Board member Robert Katherman
Torrance School Board member Terry Ragins
El Segundo School Board member Dr. Bill Watkins
Palos Verdes Peninsula School District Board member Barbara Lucky