Longtime progressive Congressman will leave strong legacy, and a lot of Democrats looking at his seat

by Brian Leubitz

Henry Waxman is something of an institution, both in LA and in DC. He has an effective record that is tough to argue with, but he’s taking that legacy and heading for a more normal life it seems.

Congressman Henry A. Waxman, a senior Democrat from California, who has played a leading role in the enactment of major health, consumer protection, environmental, telecommunications, and good government laws, released the following statement announcing his decision not to seek reelection to the House this fall:

“In 1974, I announced my first campaign for Congress.  Today, I am announcing that I have run my last campaign.  I will not seek reelection to the Congress and will leave after 40 years in office at the end of this year.

“As I reflect on my career, I am filled with gratitude.  I am grateful for the support of my constituents, who have entrusted me to represent them and encouraged me to become a leader on national and international issues.  I am grateful for my supporters and allies, who have worked side-by-side with me to fight for issues we care about:  health, environmental protection, women’s and gay rights, and strengthening the ties between the United States and our most important ally, the State of Israel. ” (Henry Waxman)

As Joan McCarter points out Waxman takes his role as a public servant very seriously. He has consistently worked on behalf of his constituents against some pretty powerful interests. But, the rancor can get to be much for anybody, and Waxman blasts the Tea Party Republicans for failing to heed evidence and focus on the end results of policy rather than just walk along their ideological path blindly.

Meanwhile, the announcement will lead to quite the scrum on the Westside.  A number of names have already surfaced, but no announcements have yet been made. Given the short fundraising window, those announcements should come out very shortly.