Capitol Alert: Jerry Brown to campaign Friday for SD 28 candidate Ted Lieu

Gov. Jerry Brown will hit the campaign trail for 28th Senate District candidate Ted Lieu on Friday.

The governor, who travels to Southern California tomorrow to speak to the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce , will appear at a Friday morning event at the former Democratic assemblyman's campaign headquarters in Torrance. Brown adviser Steve Glazer said.

"I'm thrilled that Governor Brown is going to come to my hometown in Torrance and stop by my campaign headquarters," Lieu said this evening.

Lieu, who was termed out of the state Assembly in November, is one of eight candidates running in Tuesday's top-two primary to fill the seat vacated by late Democratic Sen. Jenny Oropeza, who died shortly before the November election. If no candidate wins more than 50 percent of the vote in Tuesday's primary, the top two vote-getters will compete in an April 19 runoff.

Lieu, who has a strong cash advantage and high name ID in the safe Democratic district that overlaps with the Assembly seat he represented for three terms, said he has ramped up an aggressive field campaign with a goal of to winning "50 percent plus one" on Tuesday. But a crowded field could send the contest to a runoff.

Brown, whose endorsements have already appeared in Lieu's campaign mail, has good reason to want to see the Torrance Democrat win outright. Filling the vacancy next week would allow Lieu to be sworn in ahead of any impending budget votes, adding a potential "aye" for Brown's plan in what otherwise would be a vacant seat.

Lieu said he "absolutely supports" the overall mix of cuts and putting tax extensions on the ballot that Brown has proposed.

"I am very pleased Governor Brown has proposed a budget that is honest," Lieu said. "If you follow Governor Brown's approach, which is 50 percent cuts and 50 percent revenue, we will largely balance this budget."

This post was updated at 6:06 p.m. with comments from Lieu.

PHOTO CREDIT: Then-Assemblyman Ted Lieu, D-Torrance, speaks at a 2008 press conference. Renée C. Byer/ Sacramento Bee.