Matt Miller tries YouTube in crowded race to replace Rep. Waxman

In an already crowded race to replace a retiring congressional veteran, journalist and radio host Matt Miller put his early campaign pitch on YouTube on Thursday morning.

Miller, a Democrat and former Clinton administration aide who wants to replace Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Beverly Hills), used a short video clip to outline his reasons for jumping into the race.

“I’m running because we need bolder answers on things like runaway healthcare and college costs, climate change and retirement security, not small thinking or symbolic gestures,” Miller said in the video.

“I’m determined to make this an honest conversation about renewing America,” added the co-host of National Public Radio’s “Left, Right and Center” public affairs program.

Eighteen people have taken at least preliminary steps to become candidates in the 33rd Congressional District, which stretches from the Westside and Malibu south along the coast to the Palos Verdes Peninsula.

Some of the declared candidates already have held elected offices, including state Sen. Ted Lieu (D-Torrance) and former Los Angeles Controller and Councilwoman Wendy Greuel, also a Democrat.

Lieu has lined up support from other officeholders, including four area members of Congress, several other state legislators and a slew of local elected officials.

Also among the better known candidates is bestselling author and spiritual teacher Marianne Williamson, a former Democrat who is one of two nonpartisan candidates in the race.

Lieu has lined up support from other elected officials, including four area members of Congress, several other state legislators and a slew of local elected officials.

Greuel has been endorsed by Emily’s List, which supports Democratic women candidates and by Hollywood heavyweight and political activist Rob Reiner. Her campaign has been touting her fundraising success on the online donation site Act Blue. (By Wednesday evening, she had raised about $335,000 from the site.)

Emmy-winning singer Jason Mraz performed at a fundraiser in Malibu for Williamson recently and former Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) endorsed her.

Because Waxman is not seeking re-election, the candidate filing period for this office won’t close until March 12.

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Twitter: @jeanmerl

jean.merl@latimes.com