Henry Waxman endorses state Sen. Ted Lieu to succeed him in Congress

Retiring U.S. Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-Beverly Hills) has endorsed Democratic state Sen. Ted Lieu of Torrance to succeed him.

Lieu’s campaign issued a news release about the endorsement on Thursday.

“Ted Lieu is my choice to represent us in Congress,” Waxman said in the news release, noting the lawmaker “is the son of hard-working immigrants and has served with distinction in our armed forces and in public office.”

On Wednesday, just hours after Lieu had placed second in Tuesday’s “top two” primary to secure a place on the Nov. 4 general election ballot, Waxman did an interview with The Times’ Richard Simon in Washington and told him of the pending endorsement.

“I’ll be proud to have him take my place,” Waxman said of Lieu.

Lieu’s general election opponent for the fall election is gang prosecutor Elan Carr, a Republican, who came in first in Tuesday’s primary.

Waxman’s district, the 33rd, is strongly Democratic and his announcement that he was retiring after 40 years in Congress drew the largest field of any race in California on Tuesday.

Eighteen candidates were on the ballot, including 10 Democrats and three Republicans, as well as a write-in candidate.

Former Los Angeles Controller Wendy Greuel, a Democrat, came in third Tuesday, narrowly missing a spot in the general election.