Mike Levin should not be confused with Mark Levin.
| Mike Levin | |
| State: | California |
| Term Start: | January 3, 2019 |
| Predecessor: | Darrell Issa |
| Birth Name: | Michael Ted Levin |
| Birth Date: | 20 October 1978 |
| Birth Place: | Inglewood, California, U.S. |
| Party: | Democratic |
| Children: | 2 |
| Education: | Stanford University (BA) Duke University (JD) |
| Signature: | Signature of Mike Levin.png |
| Signature Alt: | Signature of Mike levin |
| Website: | |
Michael Ted Levin (; born October 20, 1978) is an American politician and attorney who serves as the U.S. representative for California's 49th congressional district since 2019.[1] He is a member of the Democratic Party and represents most of San Diego's North County, as well as part of southern Orange County.[2]
Levin was born in Inglewood, California, and raised in Lake Forest, Orange County. His mother is Mexican-American and his father is Jewish.[3] Levin was raised in both the Jewish and Catholic faiths.[4] His maternal grandparents immigrated to the United States from Mexico as children, arriving with little formal education or money. They eventually established a business distributing Wurlitzer jukeboxes in Los Angeles, enabling Levin's mother and her four sisters to attend college.
Levin graduated from Loyola High School in Los Angeles in 1997.[5] He then attended Stanford University, where he was elected student body president.[6] He graduated in 2001 with a Bachelor of Arts degree and went on to earn a Juris Doctor from Duke University School of Law in 2005, focusing on environmental law.
After law school, Levin worked as an attorney specializing in energy and environmental law, focusing on regulatory compliance and government affairs.
In addition to his legal work, Levin co-founded CleanTech OC, a trade group promoting sustainable energy in Orange County,[7] and served as vice president of Better Energy Systems, a cleantech startup in Berkeley, California.[8] In 2011, he was featured in OC Metro’s “40 Under 40” for his work at FlexEnergy, a company that developed technology to capture and use methane from landfills and wastewater treatment facilities.[9] From 2014 to 2017, he was the director of government affairs at FuelCell Energy[10] and served on the board of the Center for Sustainable Energy in San Diego.[11]
Levin was also active in Democratic politics, serving as executive director of the Democratic Party of Orange County. In 2016, he joined Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign as a member of the national finance committee.[12] [13] [14]
On March 8, 2017, Levin announced his candidacy for the United States Congress in California's 49th congressional district to replace incumbent representative Darrell Issa. The district had historically been one of Southern California's more Republican districts, but redistricting after the 2010 census cut out most of its heavily Republican inland portion, making it significantly more competitive. Issa had nearly been defeated in 2016 as Hillary Clinton carried the district.
At a town hall event that Issa held on March 11, 2017, Levin publicly confronted Issa and mentioned a book he had sent Issa in 2016, Climate Change for Beginners. Levin charged that Issa's solution to climate problems "is to build more natural gas plants and to keep the nuclear energy plants online for longer.... I think that's an unfathomable proposal for a progressive and environmentally-friendly place like San Diego."[15] [16]
Due to the competitive character of the race as well as the absence of an incumbent, there were 16 candidates on the ballot in the primary.[17] The large number of candidates in the nonpartisan blanket primary led to fears that Democrats would be locked out of the general election.[18] [19]
In the June 5 primary, Levin came in second to Republican State Board of Equalization chair Diane Harkey and advanced to the general election. This assured that the district would be represented by someone from the Orange County portion of the district, though the 49th is a San Diego district by weight of population. Levin is from San Juan Capistrano, while Harkey is from nearby Dana Point.
Barack Obama endorsed Levin as well as other candidates.[20]
In the 2020 general election, Levin defeated Republican Brian Maryott with 53.1% of the vote.[21]
In the 2022 general election, Levin again defeated Republican Brian Maryott, this time with 52.6% of the vote.[22]
Levin defeated Republican Matt Gunderson in the 2024 general election.[23] Levin carried 52.2% of the vote.[24]
Levin was sworn into the House of Representatives on January 3, 2019, to represent California's 49th district. For the 116th Congress, he was appointed to the Natural Resources and Veterans' Affairs committees and the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis.[25] He was sworn in during the government shutdown of 2019.
Levin's committee assignments for the 119th Congress include:[26]
Levin's caucus memberships include:[27]
Levin has emphasized his support for "a woman's right to a safe, legal abortion".[30] Levin has a 100% rating from NARAL Pro-Choice America and an F grade from the Susan B. Anthony List for his voting record on abortion-related issues.[31] [32]
In 2022, Levin voted for the Respect for Marriage Act.[33]
In 2024, Levin voted for the National Defense Authorization Act, which included a provision that would prohibit insurance coverage of trans health care. Levin stated he supported the bill because of the pay raises for service members and other quality-of-life provisions in the bill.[34]
Levin supports an assault weapons ban, as well as universal and enhanced background checks.[35]
In 2022, Levin voted for H.R. 1808: Assault Weapons Ban of 2022, aimed at banning the sale and distribution of certain types of firearms.[36] [37] He also supported the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which was passed and signed into law.[38]
Levin has stated that he supports restricting hedge funds from buying single-family housing stock. Levin has also advocated for investments to increase affordable housing, he supports a tax credit for first-time home buyers and secured federal funding for a homeless shelter.[39]
Levin has expressed his support for a ban on congressional stock trading.[40]
On July 12, 2024, Levin called for Joe Biden to withdraw from the 2024 United States presidential election.[41]
Levin supports a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine.
In March 2024, Levin called for a temporary cease-fire to allow humanitarian aid to get into Gaza. He also called on the continuation of military funds to Israel. Levin has supported a cease-fire in conjunction with the release of Israeli hostages. In April 2024, Levin stated that "It appears to me that new leaders are needed [in Israel]" adding that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is not "ultimately leading to a more peaceful outcome" in the region.[42]
Levin has prioritized addressing climate change, which has garnered attention from national media outlets covering energy and environmental issues. During the 2022 elections, these outlets considered his reelection bid a high-profile race.[43] Levin voted for the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, the largest climate policy ever passed by Congress.[44]
Levin supported the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, a bill to address the country's infrastructure needs through investments in rebuilding and modernization.[45] The legislation also funds new initiatives aimed at enhancing the resilience of infrastructure against the effects of climate change and expanding the reach of broadband infrastructure. It passed with bipartisan support.[46]
Levin is a proponent of moving the Pacific Surfliner railway line, which runs along the coastal bluffs of Del Mar, to a safer location.[47] He pushed for additional Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding to be allocated for a rail tunnel under Del Mar, with the goal of completing the project by 2035.[48]
Levin lives in San Juan Capistrano with his wife, Chrissy, and their two children.[49] [50]
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