State Senator Ted Lieu (Dem-28th District) announced Friday morning he will run for Congress to succeed Henry Waxman.
Waxman, a 40-year veteran congressman, announced Thursday he would not seek reelection later this year.
Lieu’s State Senate district comprises more than 80 percent of the voters in Waxman’s 33rd Congressional District.
“Congressmember Henry Waxman is a living legend,” Lieu said Friday. “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, an immigrant, said he is running because he loves America.
“But our nation can do better,” he said. “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.”
Lieu, a long-time resident of the district, is an Air Force veteran. He has served on the Torrance City Council, State Assembly, and the California State Senate.
Waxman’s 33rd District includes Santa Monica, Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Beverly Hills, Agoura Hills, Venice, Mar Vista, and the South Bay.
Lieu currently represents nearly 1.3 million people. In addition to Santa Monica, he also represents constituents in Beverly Hills, Carson, El Segundo, Hermosa Beach, Lomita, Manhattan Beach, Palos Verdes Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, Redondo Beach, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Torrance, West Hollywood, and portions of Hollywood.
