Democrat Ted Lieu Bucks Trend To Win Henry Waxman Seat
Democrat Ted Lieu will succeed Henry Waxman in California’s 33rd Congressional district, defeating Jewish Republican Elan Carr.
Lieu, a state senator, was heavily favored to win the seat — in the seventh most Jewish-populated district in the country — and was bolstered by the endorsement of Waxman, a revered liberal Democrat who represented the West Side of Los Angeles in Congress for 40 years.
Carr, a deputy district attorney for Los Angeles County, touted his close ties to Israel and garnered the support of mega donor Sheldon Adelson but could not overcome the district’s strongly Democratic leaning.
The race was a largely cordial affair, with both candidates pitching themselves as moderates and strong supporters of Israel. It took a vicious turn in the final week, however, when a pro-Carr Super PAC sent out mailers attempting to tie Lieu to Hamas.
"Why I became the Forward’s Editor-in-Chief"
You are surely a friend of the Forward if you’re reading this. And so it’s with excitement and awe — of all that the Forward is, was, and will be — that I introduce myself to you as the Forward’s newest editor-in-chief.
And what a time to step into the leadership of this storied Jewish institution! For 129 years, the Forward has shaped and told the American Jewish story. I’m stepping in at an intense time for Jews the world over. We urgently need the Forward’s courageous, unflinching journalism — not only as a source of reliable information, but to provide inspiration, healing and hope.
