State Sen. Mark DeSaulnier To Run For Congressman George Miller's Seat

State Sen. Mark DeSaulnier has confirmed he will run for Rep. George Miller's seat in the 11th congressional district.

DeSaulnier made the announcement late Monday morning, a couple hours after Miller announced he is retiring and won't seek a 21st term in Congress.

DeSaulnier praised Miller as a "champion for working people and the middle class." He said he wants to continue Miller's work on those issues.

“I’m running for Congress to help bring an end to the brinkmanship and gridlock in Washington," said DeSaulnier, "so that we can move forward with President Obama’s agenda of creating more good paying jobs, growing our middle class, investing in our infrastructure, increasing access to healthcare, advancing the use of renewable and homegrown energy, enhancing our education systems, and making the United States a leader in innovation around the globe.”

DeSaulnier, 61, has served on the Concord City Council and the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors as well as in the state Assembly and state Senate. The Concord Democrat is currently in the middle of his second term in the Senate.

Another potential candidate for Miller's seat is state Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla (D-Concord).

The Concord Democrat hasn't announced whether she'll run for Miller's seat, but she released a statement on Miller's retirement on Monday morning.

"George Miller has proudly represented his constituents in Contra Costa County for over 40 years in Congress," said Bonilla. "In his exemplary service as a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, he wrote or co-wrote many of the significant laws that brought health care to the uninsured, improved wages for working families, helped students pay down their student loans, and protected California’s natural resources from development. His dedication to his constituents and leadership that he provided for Contra Costa County and California will be truly missed.”

Another possible candidate is state Assemblywoman Joan Buchanan (D-Alamo).

Buchanan spokeswoman Michelle Henry said Buchanan is "very proud of the work Congressman Miller has done," especially on education, labor and environmental issues.

Henry said the assemblywoman hasn't decided yet what she will do for the 2014 election.

"She will look at what's on the table and what options she has," Henry said.