Ted Lieu For Senate

Ted Lieu by Nancy Ohanian

There are a multitude of reasons why the up-and-coming Congressman representing California’s 33rd Congressional District would make an excellent choice to serve as the next junior Senator from California when Kamala Harris is elected vice president in November. Ted Lieu has an amazing life story, is insanely smart and hardworking, and understands the true meaning of public service. And most importantly, Ted is a leader who knows how to get things done.

Ted is a man of conscience and compassion and he has never lost touch with where he came from. His story begins much like your story, or your parents’ story, or your grandparents’ story. It is the quintessential American story. Ted is an immigrant whose family moved to the United States looking to achieve the American dream-- and by every measure they succeeded. Ted’s family went from being poor and not speaking English well to opening several gift stores where Ted and his brother would help with the family’s small business. Ted attended Stanford University, where he earned undergraduate degrees in Computer Science and Political Science, and then Georgetown University, where he received his law degree magna cum laude after serving as Editor-in-Chief of the law review. Ted decided to give back to the amazing country that had given him and his family so many opportunities by joining the United States Air Force. After serving on active duty for four years in the JAG Corps, Ted wanted to continue to serve his country and joined the Reserves, where he still serves as a Colonel.

Ted has served in public office at the city, state, and now national level. He knows how to get things done in government. Prior to being elected to Congress in 2014, Ted served in the California State Assembly and Senate. He authored landmark legislation regulating the subprime mortgage industry; a first-in-the-nation ban on gay conversion therapy for children; and a first-in-the-nation ban on the use of tanning beds for minors. Ted also co-authored California’s landmark Global Warming Solutions Act.

In Congress, Ted has been a leader on a wide range of issues from the major challenges of our day like climate change and healthcare to lesser covered (but still important) topics like cyber security and nuclear weapons policy. The first bill Ted introduced after coming to Congress was the Climate Solutions Act, which aims to make California’s ground-breaking renewable energy goals and climate emissions reduction targets a national model. As one of only four computer science majors currently serving in Congress, Ted is frequently sought out for his insight on technology and innovation matters including cybersecurity, cloud computing and innovation as well as the sharing and creative economy. He has also introduced legislation to prioritize consumer safety in technologically-advanced cars as well as legislation that would ensure law enforcement and tech companies protect consumer privacy. Ted has also been a leader in Congress against ethnic and racial profiling, as well as discrimination against the LGBT community. His bill to ban so-called conversion therapy is modeled off of his successful legislation in California. On foreign policy and national security, Ted believes we are stronger when we use all elements of national power. Ted worked with Ed Markey in the Senate to introduce legislation to limit the President’s (any president’s) power to unilaterally use nuclear weapons. And has been speaking out against the US military support for the conflict in Yemen for years, even when it was harder to do during the Obama Administration.

But Ted Lieu is so much more than just the list of his accomplishments. He possesses those intangible qualities that make him a pragmatic and effective leader. When looking at Ted’s political career the adage attributed to Thomas Jefferson comes to mind: "In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." Ted knows how to work with his colleagues from across the political spectrum to deliver results when possible. Since coming to Congress, at least 15 pieces of legislation sponsored by Ted have been signed into law-- despite either serving in the minority or during a Republican Administration. He knows how to swim with the current when it can get things done. He also knows how to stand like a rock when the moment calls for that. Ted is not afraid to stand up to bullies like Trump-- and he has the Twitter followers to prove it. He has fought to hold the Trump Administration accountable at every turn over the past three plus years. As a Member of the House Judiciary Committee, Ted was a leader during the impeachment process, pointing out the obvious abuse of power committed by the President.





Throughout his three terms in the House of Representatives, Ted has earned the respect of his colleagues. In his first term, Ted was chosen by his classmates to serve as the President of their Freshman class. Last Congress he was an incredibly engaged and effective Vice Chair at the DCCC, doing his part to help support the 2018 Democratic wave. And this term he was elected by his Democratic Colleagues to serve as a Co-Chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee, making him one of about a dozen House Democrats to serve in Leadership. (Fun fact: Only Speaker Pelosi received more votes than Ted during the caucus elections, and she ran unopposed!) He has used this position to help hone the Democratic message heading into 2020.

Ted is also the last person who will talk about his qualifications to be the next Senator from California. When I asked him if he would be interested in the possible Senate vacancy, he said there is too much work to be done to spend time thinking about that. He then went on to list half a dozen things he’s working on right now for our nation and his district: ensuring adequate national testing for COVID-19, saving the US Postal Service, preventing voter suppression, passing the next economic recovery package being negotiated in Congress, working to elect Democrats to the House and Senate, and of course making sure Donald Trump is a one term president. Washington is full of politicians projecting false humility. It is downright refreshing to talk to one who is a genuinely humble public servant. We should-- Gavin Newsom should-- send him to the Senate to continue his service.