The Los Angeles County Business Federation on Thursday joined other local business groups in backing Bobby Shriver for county supervisor in next month’s hotly contested primary election.

The business federation, or BizFed, also endorsed former U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis for another seat on the county board.

“Each of these candidates has demonstrated the critically-needed experience to be proactive, pragmatic and visionary leaders,” said BizFed PAC Chairwoman Laura Olhasso. “We believe these candidates have the skills to successfully lead our county government through the challenges it faces and to grow our economy and communities.”

Solis is the presumed frontrunner in the first district supervisor race, holding wide fundraising and polling leads over her two rivals. The first district, which covers eastern Los Angeles County including the San Gabriel Valley, came open with the departure of Gloria Molina.

Shriver, a Kennedy relative and former City Councilman in Santa Monica, is in a close race for the third district seat with state legislator Sheila Kuehl. The third district, which covers the Valley, the Westside and the coast from Venice to Malibu, came open with the departure of Zev Yaroslavsky. Both Molina and Yaroslavsky were forced to leave their seats by term limits.

In endorsing Shriver, brother of former California First Lady Maria Shriver and son of the late Sargent Shriver, BizFed joins several other local business groups, including the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce and the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.

Kuehl has not won endorsements from business groups; her support comes from unions and local Democrat and activist groups.