Mike Levin

Mike Levin
Born	Michael Ted Levin 20 10, 1978
Birthplace	Inglewood, California, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, attorney
Known for	U.S. Representative for California's 49th congressional district
Education	Stanford University (BA) Duke University (JD)
Children	2
Website	[https://levin.house.gov/ Official site]

Michael Ted Levin (born October 20, 1978) is an American politician and attorney serving as the U.S. representative for California's 49th congressional district since January 3, 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, Levin represents a coastal stretch of Southern California that encompasses most of northern San Diego County and part of southern Orange County. Before entering Congress, he worked as an attorney and executive in the clean energy sector, an experience that has shaped much of his legislative focus on environmental policy and renewable energy. Levin first won his seat in the 2018 midterm elections, succeeding longtime Republican incumbent Darrell Issa, who retired rather than seek re-election in an increasingly competitive district. He has since been re-elected multiple times. In Congress, Levin has focused on issues including veterans' affairs, environmental protection, immigration, and federal investment in his district's infrastructure and community projects.

Early Life

Michael Ted Levin was born on October 20, 1978, in Inglewood, California, a city in the South Bay area of Los Angeles County. He grew up in Southern California and developed an early interest in environmental issues and public service. Details about his parents and family background during his childhood years are limited in available public records, though his upbringing in the greater Los Angeles area placed him in proximity to both the environmental challenges and the economic dynamism of California's coastal communities.

Levin's formative years coincided with growing public awareness of climate change and renewable energy policy in the 1990s, themes that would later define much of his professional and political career. His path from the South Bay to the halls of Congress would take him through elite academic institutions and a career in the clean technology industry before he entered electoral politics.

Education

Levin attended Stanford University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. He subsequently enrolled at Duke University School of Law, where he obtained his Juris Doctor degree. His legal education provided the foundation for a career that would blend law, energy policy, and eventually public office. The combination of a Stanford undergraduate education and a Duke law degree equipped Levin with credentials in both policy analysis and legal practice, which he applied to the clean energy sector before turning to politics.

Career

Clean Energy and Legal Career

Before entering politics, Levin built a career at the intersection of law, business, and clean energy policy. He worked as an attorney and executive in the clean technology industry, gaining expertise in energy and environmental issues that would later inform his legislative priorities. During this period, he was involved in discussions around California's energy landscape, including debates about proposed energy facilities and the state's transition toward renewable power sources. Levin was associated with the Center for Sustainable Energy, a San Diego–based organization focused on clean energy programs and policy.

His work in the sector also placed him in broader national conversations about clean technology policy. In a 2010 discussion about the state of the clean technology industry, Levin was among those who commented on the challenges facing the sector, including congressional inaction on comprehensive energy legislation. This professional background as a clean energy advocate and attorney provided Levin with both policy expertise and a profile within Democratic political circles in Southern California.

Levin was also active in Democratic politics prior to his own candidacy. He participated in fundraising efforts for Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign, reflecting his engagement with the broader party infrastructure.

2018 Congressional Campaign

Levin announced his candidacy for California's 49th congressional district in March 2017, entering the race to challenge Republican incumbent Darrell Issa. Issa, who had served in Congress since 2001 and chaired the House Oversight Committee, had won re-election in 2016 by fewer than 2,000 votes, making his district one of the most competitive in the nation. The narrow margin attracted a wave of Democratic challengers, and Issa's district became a focal point of the Democratic strategy to retake the House in the 2018 midterms.

In January 2018, Issa announced that he would not seek re-election, further intensifying the contest for the open seat. Issa's retirement drew national attention to the race and increased the number of candidates from both parties. The contest attracted significant interest from both local and national media, with observers noting the tight and often chaotic nature of the primary campaign in the district.

Under California's top-two primary system, all candidates regardless of party appeared on a single primary ballot, with the top two vote-getters advancing to the general election. The Democratic field was crowded, raising concerns among party strategists that multiple Democrats might split the vote and allow two Republicans to advance. Levin emerged as the leading Democratic candidate in the primary race. Polling conducted ahead of the June 2018 primary showed Levin ahead among the Democratic candidates in the district. He advanced through the primary to the general election.

The general election campaign attracted significant national attention and resources. In August 2018, former President Barack Obama endorsed Levin's candidacy, along with that of Ammar Campa-Najjar in the neighboring 50th district. Obama's endorsement gave Levin's campaign additional national visibility and fundraising momentum. Levin won the November 2018 general election, flipping the district from Republican to Democratic control as part of the broader blue wave that gave Democrats a majority in the House of Representatives.

Tenure in Congress

Levin took office on January 3, 2019, succeeding Darrell Issa as the representative for California's 49th congressional district. His predecessor had held the seat since 2001, and Levin's election represented a significant political shift in the district. Since taking office, Levin has focused on a range of legislative priorities, including environmental protection, veterans' affairs, and community investment.

Environmental and Energy Policy

Consistent with his pre-congressional career in clean energy, Levin has made environmental protection a central element of his legislative work. He has introduced and supported legislation addressing issues such as plastic pollution, coastal protection, and renewable energy. In 2025, Levin and Representative Hillary Scholten (MI-3) reintroduced the Plastic Pellet Free Waters Act, legislation aimed at addressing plastic pellet pollution in waterways. The bill reflected Levin's ongoing focus on the environmental concerns of his coastal district, where ocean health and water quality are significant local issues.

Veterans' Affairs

Levin has pursued a number of bipartisan legislative initiatives related to veterans' services and benefits. In 2025, he partnered with Representative James Moylan (Guam-At Large) to reintroduce the Veterans Assistance for Loan Fees Act, a bipartisan bill designed to waive home loan fees for disabled veterans. Additionally, Levin and Representative Jim Baird (IN-4) reintroduced bipartisan legislation to eliminate passport fees for Purple Heart and Medal of Honor recipients. The 49th district includes Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, making veterans' issues particularly relevant to Levin's constituency.

Federal Funding and District Projects

Levin has worked to direct federal funds to projects and priorities within his district. In 2025, he announced the securing of over $42 million in new federal funding for community projects and priorities in the 49th district. These appropriations reflected Levin's emphasis on bringing federal resources to bear on local infrastructure, community development, and public services within his district.

Immigration and Government Spending

Levin has been vocal on immigration-related issues, particularly in the context of his Southern California district's proximity to the U.S.–Mexico border. In 2025, he voted against the Fiscal Year 2026 government funding package, citing what he described as a failure to rein in ICE. He also publicly denounced a visit by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to the Otay Mesa area, criticizing the administration's immigration enforcement approach.

In February 2026, Levin announced that he would bring the daughter of a deported immigrant couple as his guest to President Donald Trump's State of the Union address, using the invitation to draw attention to the impact of deportation policies on American families in his district.

Judicial and Trade Policy

Levin has also weighed in on trade and judicial matters. In 2026, he released a statement responding to the Supreme Court's ruling on tariffs, commenting on the implications of the decision for trade policy and the executive branch's authority over tariff imposition.

Political Engagement Prior to Office

Before his own candidacy, Levin was active in Democratic organizing and advocacy. His entry into the 2018 race was described by local media as that of a "Democratic activist" joining the challenge against Issa, suggesting an established profile within local party networks. Local publications noted Levin's entrance into the race as a significant development in the contest for the 49th district.

Personal Life

Levin resides in the 49th congressional district in the San Diego area. He has two children. Beyond these publicly documented facts, Levin has maintained a relatively limited public profile regarding his personal life, consistent with many members of Congress who separate their legislative work from personal matters. His district, which runs along the Southern California coast from southern Orange County through northern San Diego County, includes communities such as San Juan Capistrano, Dana Point, San Clemente, Oceanside, Carlsbad, Encinitas, and Solana Beach, as well as Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.

Recognition

Levin's 2018 victory was noted as part of the broader national trend that saw Democrats flip numerous Republican-held House seats, particularly in suburban and coastal districts across California. The 49th district race received national media coverage from outlets including The New Yorker, Roll Call, and the Orange County Register, in part due to the high-profile retirement of Darrell Issa and the competitive nature of the primary and general elections. His endorsement by former President Barack Obama during the 2018 general election campaign was a notable marker of national Democratic support for his candidacy.

In Congress, Levin's bipartisan legislative efforts on veterans' affairs — including bills co-sponsored with Republican colleagues — have drawn attention to his approach of working across party lines on specific policy areas, even while maintaining strong partisan positions on issues such as immigration and government spending.