Gavin Newsom backs Wendy Greuel to succeed Rep. Henry Waxman

Former Los Angeles Controller Wendy Greuel has picked up the endorsement of Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom as she battles in a growing field of candidates for an open Westside-South Bay congressional district.

“I know Wendy will fight and deliver for the people of the 33rd Congressional District,” Newsom said in a statement released Wednesday by the Greuel campaign.

“She’s spent 20 years in the trenches solving problems for everyday families,” Newsom continued, citing Greuel’s work in the administrations of President Clinton and former L.A. Mayor Tom Bradley as well as her stint as city controller.

Greuel is one of the better known candidates who have been jumping into the race to succeed Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-Beverly Hills). Waxman announced late last month he will retire this year after four decades in Congress.

Greuel was the first to get into the race, followed quickly by state Sen. Ted Lieu (D-Torrance), who has been racking up endorsements from other statewide office-holders.

The race for the strongly Democratic district has also drawn several other members of that party as well as one Republican and two independents so far.

Because there will be no incumbent on the June 3 primary ballot, the candidate filing period has been extended to March 12.

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