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	[Official congressional website 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 a portion of southern Orange County. Before entering electoral politics, Levin worked in the clean energy sector and as an environmental advocate, experiences that shaped his legislative focus on climate policy, veterans' affairs, and coastal protection. He first won his seat in the 2018 midterm elections, succeeding longtime Republican incumbent Darrell Issa, who had retired after narrowly winning re-election in 2016. Levin's victory was part of a broader Democratic wave in Southern California that year, and he has since been re-elected multiple times. In Congress, he has served on committees related to natural resources and veterans' affairs and has pursued a legislative agenda centered on environmental sustainability, support for military service members, and federal investment in his district's infrastructure and communities.

Early Life

Michael Ted Levin was born on October 20, 1978, in Inglewood, California. He grew up in Southern California and was raised in a family that instilled in him an interest in public service and civic engagement. Details about his parents, siblings, and upbringing beyond his birthplace remain limited in publicly available sources.

Levin's formative years in the greater Los Angeles area exposed him to the environmental and economic issues that would later define much of his political career. Growing up in a region shaped by debates over air quality, water resources, and urban development, he developed an early awareness of the intersection between environmental policy and community well-being. These themes would carry through his education and into his professional life in the clean energy 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 his later work in energy policy and environmental law, and his academic background at two of the nation's leading institutions positioned him for a career that spanned the private sector, advocacy organizations, and ultimately public office.

Career

Clean Energy Advocacy

Before entering politics, Levin built a career in the clean energy and environmental sectors. He worked with organizations focused on advancing renewable energy policy and reducing dependence on fossil fuels. His professional background included involvement with the Center for Sustainable Energy, a nonprofit organization based in San Diego that works on energy policy and program administration.

Levin was an advocate for clean technology and spoke publicly about the challenges facing the sector, including the need for congressional action to support cleantech development. In a 2010 discussion about the state of the clean energy industry, Levin was among those who identified congressional inaction as a significant obstacle to the growth of clean technology businesses and deployment of renewable energy solutions. His work in this field provided him with policy expertise that he would later bring to his congressional campaigns and legislative work.

Levin also gained experience as an attorney, applying his legal training to energy and environmental matters. His combination of legal expertise and clean energy advocacy distinguished him from other candidates when he later sought elected office and gave him a substantive policy platform on which to campaign.

2018 Congressional Campaign

In March 2017, Levin announced his candidacy for California's 49th congressional district, challenging incumbent Republican Representative 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 1,700 votes, making his district one of the most competitive in the country. The narrow margin attracted significant Democratic interest in the seat.

Levin entered a crowded primary field. Under California's top-two primary system, all candidates regardless of party affiliation compete on the same ballot, with the top two vote-getters advancing to the general election. The race drew national attention, and observers noted the chaotic and competitive nature of the primary contest, with multiple Democrats vying for the opportunity to compete for the seat.

In January 2018, Issa announced that he would not seek re-election, further intensifying interest in the race. Democratic polling showed Levin leading the field among Democratic candidates in the district. His campaign focused on clean energy, environmental protection, healthcare access, and opposition to the policies of the Trump administration.

Levin received a number of significant endorsements during the campaign. Former President Barack Obama endorsed Levin ahead of the general election in August 2018, part of Obama's broader effort to support Democratic candidates in competitive districts across the country.

Levin advanced through the June 2018 primary election as one of the top two vote-getters. In the November 2018 general election, he won the seat, becoming the representative for the 49th congressional district and succeeding Issa. His victory was part of a significant Democratic wave in Southern California, where the party flipped several previously Republican-held seats.

U.S. House of Representatives

Levin took office on January 3, 2019, and has since served consecutive terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. His legislative work has focused on several core areas: environmental protection and climate policy, veterans' affairs, and securing federal funding for infrastructure and community projects in his district.

Environmental and Climate Legislation

Consistent with his pre-congressional career in the clean energy sector, Levin has made environmental protection a central component of his legislative agenda. He has introduced and supported bills addressing coastal preservation, water quality, and pollution reduction.

In 2025, Levin reintroduced the Plastic Pellet Free Waters Act alongside Representative Hillary Scholten of Michigan. The legislation was designed to address plastic pollution in waterways by targeting the discharge of plastic pellets, which are small plastic particles used in manufacturing that can contaminate marine environments and harm wildlife. The bill reflected Levin's ongoing focus on the environmental concerns of his coastal district, where ocean health and water quality are significant issues for residents and local economies dependent on tourism and recreation.

Levin has also been vocal on broader climate and energy matters, including opposing energy proposals he viewed as inconsistent with California's renewable energy priorities. Earlier in his career, he had criticized a proposed natural gas power plant in Carlsbad as contradictory to the state's clean energy goals.

Veterans' Affairs

Levin has been active on veterans' issues during his tenure in Congress, introducing multiple pieces of legislation aimed at supporting military service members and veterans. The 49th district is home to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, one of the largest military installations on the West Coast, making veterans' affairs a particularly salient issue for his constituents.

In 2025, Levin reintroduced the Veterans Assistance for Loan Origination and Refinancing (VALOR) Act in partnership with Republican Representative James Moylan of Guam. The bipartisan bill would waive home loan fees for disabled veterans, reducing the financial burden on veterans with service-connected disabilities when purchasing or refinancing homes.

Also in 2025, Levin co-introduced the Passports for Purple Hearts and Medals of Honor Act with Republican Representative Jim Baird of Indiana. The bipartisan legislation sought to eliminate passport fees for recipients of the Purple Heart and Medal of Honor, recognizing the sacrifices of these decorated service members. Both veterans-related bills demonstrated Levin's approach of working across party lines on issues related to military service.

District Funding and Appropriations

Levin has worked to direct federal funding to projects and priorities within the 49th district. In 2025, he announced that he had secured over $42 million in new federal funding for community projects and priorities in the district. The funding was directed toward a range of local needs, including infrastructure improvements and community development initiatives.

Immigration and Government Funding

Levin has taken positions on immigration enforcement and government spending that align with his party's general stance. In 2025, he voted against the Fiscal Year 2026 government funding package, citing what he described as a failure to adequately constrain ICE operations. In a statement explaining his vote, Levin expressed concerns about the scope of immigration enforcement activities authorized under the funding bill.

Levin also publicly criticized Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's visit to the Otay Mesa area in 2025, denouncing what he characterized as an approach to immigration enforcement that he disagreed with.

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. The guest, Stephanie Quintino, was chosen to highlight the impact of deportation policies on American families, particularly on U.S.-born children of deported parents.

Tariffs and Trade

In 2026, Levin released a statement responding to a Supreme Court ruling on tariffs, addressing the case's implications for trade policy and executive authority over tariff decisions.

Electoral History

Levin first won election to represent California's 49th congressional district in November 2018, succeeding Darrell Issa, who had served the district since 2001. He has been re-elected in subsequent cycles, maintaining his hold on the district. His campaign finance activity is documented through federal election filings.

The 49th district, which spans the coastal communities of northern San Diego County and southern Orange County, includes areas such as Oceanside, Carlsbad, Encinitas, Solana Beach, Del Mar, San Clemente, and Dana Point. The district's proximity to Camp Pendleton has made veterans' issues a consistent theme in Levin's campaigns and legislative work.

Personal Life

Mike Levin resides in the 49th congressional district in the San Diego area. He has two children. Levin has maintained a relatively private personal life while in public office, focusing public communications on his legislative and district work.

Prior to entering politics, Levin was involved in Democratic political activities and advocacy. He participated in fundraising events for Democratic candidates, including involvement in circles supporting Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign. Clinton held fundraising events in the Southern California area that attracted figures from the entertainment industry and Democratic political circles.

Recognition

Since taking office, Levin has received recognition for his work on environmental and veterans' issues. His legislative initiatives have garnered support from both Democratic colleagues and Republican co-sponsors, particularly his bills related to veterans' benefits. The bipartisan nature of several of his legislative proposals—including the VALOR Act and the Passports for Purple Hearts and Medals of Honor Act—has been noted as reflective of his approach to governing in a closely divided Congress.

Levin's ability to secure significant federal funding for his district, including the more than $42 million he announced for local projects and priorities in 2025, has been a point of emphasis in his communications with constituents.

His election in 2018 was covered as part of a broader national story about Democratic gains in traditionally Republican-leaning suburban districts, particularly in Southern California, where several seats shifted from Republican to Democratic control during the midterm elections.