Democrat Ted Lieu Bucks Trend To Win Henry Waxman Seat

By JTA November 5, 2014

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.

A message from our Publisher & CEO Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO