From SoCal Roots to Stanford and Law
Michael Ted Levin was born in Inglewood, California, on October 20, 1978, and raised in South Orange County. His upbringing in a family with a Mexican-American mother and a Jewish-American father shaped his perspective. Levin attended Loyola High School in Los Angeles before heading to Stanford University, where his leadership qualities emerged as he was elected student body president. After earning his degree in political science, he attended Duke University School of Law. His early career was firmly planted in the world of clean energy and environmental law, where he worked as an attorney and served on the board of the Center for Sustainable Energy. This work laid the foundation for what would become his signature issue in Congress.
Flipping a District and Heading to Washington
Levin’s
political career gained national attention in 2018 when he ran for California’s 49th Congressional District, a seat left open by the retirement of longtime Republican Congressman Darrell Issa. Representing a competitive district that includes parts of North County San Diego and southern Orange County, Levin successfully flipped the historically Republican-held seat. Since taking office on January 3, 2019, he has secured re-election multiple times in the swing district. His district is notable for its stunning coastline and for being home to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, two factors that heavily influence his legislative priorities.
A Champion for Environmental Protection
True to his professional roots, Levin has made environmental protection a cornerstone of his congressional work. As a representative of a coastal community, he has been a vocal opponent of new offshore oil and gas drilling, introducing the American Coasts and Oceans Protection Act to ban new leasing off the Southern California coast. A significant local priority is addressing the spent nuclear fuel stored at the decommissioned San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS). He co-founded the bipartisan Spent Nuclear Fuel Solutions Caucus to find a safe, long-term solution for moving the nuclear waste away from the coastline. His legislative efforts also include promoting renewable energy on public lands and securing federal funds for local water recycling and desalination projects.
Advocating for Veterans and Military Families
With Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in his district, advocating for servicemembers and veterans is a top priority for Levin. His work on the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, where he previously served as Chair of the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, has been highly productive. He sponsored the major Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020, which expanded a wide range of benefits for veterans. He has also authored laws to improve the Transition Assistance Program for servicemembers, expand job opportunities, and provide stable housing for homeless veterans. According to his office, dozens of his bipartisan bills to support veterans have been signed into law.
Current Role and Legislative Focus
Now in his fourth term, Levin serves on the influential House Committee on Appropriations. This position allows him to advocate for federal funding for his district, and he sits on subcommittees responsible for energy and water development, as well as military construction and veterans affairs. Beyond his two main pillars of the environment and veterans' affairs, Levin has championed legislation to lower healthcare costs, address cross-border pollution, and expand benefits for families. He is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. According to the nonpartisan Center for Effective Lawmaking, his legislative track record ranks him among the most effective members of Congress.
