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October 5th , 2023 Political Note #592 Mike Levin California 49
2024 General Election
About a year ago, Mike Levin received withering criticism from his 2022 Republican opponent. Mike Levin owned two cars, his opponent complained. One cost $40,000. The other cost $60,000. They are both Electric Vehicles. His opponent complained, Mike Levin could not possibly mean it when he said he felt the pain of his constituents regarding the high price of gas. He did not have to buy gasoline for either car.
The energy issue was right up Mike Levin’s alley. Before he ran for office, in 2010, while serving as the Legal Compliance Vice President of Ener-Core, a company focused on clean energy, he founded a non-profit called Clean Tech OC. The purpose of the non-profit was to coordinate among businesses in California’s Orange County and encourage the use of clean technology.
In 2014, Mike Levin had become head of government affairs (lobbying you could call it) for FuelCell Energy, a NASDAC listed company that creates and supports fuel cell plants for power generation. In 2017, he began his campaign for Congress to represent northern San Diego and points north. In 2018, the incumbent, Republican Darrell Issa retired and then moved north to run in a more Republican district. When Mike Levin was elected, his central purpose was to address the world’s climate problem through transitions to non-fossil fuel sources of energy. Getting everyone to use electric vehicles instead of cars that ran on fossil fuels would be an example.
Mike Levin attended public schools and then graduated from Loyola High School, Stanford University where he was student body president, and Duke University’s Law School. He had brief stints at a foundation and in law firms. In addition, he had political experience. He was the head of the Orange County Democratic Party for a year and, for a year and a half, worked on the Hillary for America National Finance Committee
Mike Levin’s mother is Roman Catholic, daughter of Mexican immigrants. Her parents both came to the United States as children. Neither family had any money. Neither family spoke English. One grandfather figured out how to be a businessman. In downtown Los Angeles, he created a business distributing Wurlitzer juke boxes. He thrived and made enough to send all five daughters to college. The American dream.
Mike Levin’s other grandfather descended from Eastern European, Ashkenazi Jews. He, too, was a businessman. After his service in World War II, he opened Dean’s Carpets in San Diego. It rankled the grandson and probably the rest of the family. To be certain that they could make the business thrive, he dodged anti-Semitism by changing the name of the business from Levin Carpets. A version of the American dream.
In Congress, Mike Levin is on the House Committee on Natural Resources as well as the Veterans’ Affairs Committee. He joined a lot of caucuses – ranging from the Hispanic Caucus to the Ukrainian Caucus to the Armenian Caucus, from the gun violence prevention caucus to the work for warriors caucus. He joined caucuses involved in various progressive caucuses including, of course, the Progressive Caucus. Naturally, he is a member of the Safe Climate caucus.
Mike Levin has spoken in favor of the Green New Deal and was happy to support Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act — the most important climate policy law passed by Congress so far. He supported Joe Biden’s Safer Communities Act which strengthened gun safety laws, Joe Biden’s Infrastructure Investment Act which included improvements for San Diego and Orange County and the entire country. That law also had a climate change focus.
Mike Levin is consistent in his support for abortion and for voting rights. His 20-point description of what he has supported and will support if reelected begins by addressing problems of the cost of living, includes jobs for the future, and quality education. Important for the region and his heritage, he stresses treating migrants with dignity. Most of all, though, couched in his comments about protecting the beauty of the Pacific coast, is his service on the Select committee on the Climate Crisis and his “aggressive” legislation to protect the environment. He makes sure to argue that the environmental emphasis will also grow the economy.
Mike Levin knows that changes in his district make him vulnerable. He won by 7 points in 2018, 6 points in 2020, and 5 points in 2022. Redistricting made CA 49 a little more Republican. Perhaps as a result of the changes, four Republicans have announced candidacies. Two of them seem serious. There are no polls for the district yet.
In the financial race, as of July 1, Matt Gunderson, owner of three auto dealerships and an unsuccessful state Senate candidate, had $270,000 available for campaigning. He emphasizes his commitment to fiscal responsibility, to “holding criminals accountable.” He criticizes career politicians. The most serious candidate is probably Sheryl Adams, a former automobile executive who announced recently and had more than $100,000 available to begin campaigning. She would secure the border, end Democratic erosion of support for law enforcement, and foster a “competitive and innovative private sector.” She promises to reduce taxes.
Mike Levin had $850,000 on July 1. He will need more to win this election. Be part of the effort to raise more money for him. Be part of the effort to protect a man of convictions who is addressing the most important issue of our time.
Other Pacific state and Northwest State Vulnerable Incumbents
Marie Gluesenkamp Perez Washington 03 #4 on Len’s List of Vulnerable Democrats and #2 on Daily Kos’s list. Len’s Political Note #543
Andrea Salinas Oregon 06 #8 on Len’s List and tied for #22 on Daily Kos’s List. Len’s Political Note #548
Jim Costa California 21 #14 on Len’s List of Vulnerable Democrats Len’s Political Note #568
Kim Schrier Washington 08 #32 on Len’s List of vulnerable Democrats and tied for #22 on Daily Kos’s list
Mary Peltola Alaska AL #35 on Len’s List of vulnerable Democrats and tied for #18 on Daily Kos’s list.
Val Hoyle Oregon 04 #36 on Len’s List of vulnerable Democrats
A Northwest vulnerable Senate incumbent
Jon Tester. Montana US Senate Len’s Political Note #550
Pacific state and Northwest State Supreme Court races. As we learn more, there will be Political Notes about some of the races in the following states:
Idaho
Montana
Oregon
Washington
