Elinor Levin

{{Infobox officeholder

|name = Elinor A. Levin

|image = Elinor Levin.jpg

|state_house1 = Iowa

|district1 = 89th

|term_start1 = January 9, 2023

|term_end1 =

|predecessor1 = Monica Kurth (redistricting)

|successor1 =

|constituency1 = District 89 - (2023–present)

|birth_date = {{birth year and age|1987}}

|birth_place = Palatine, Illinois, U.S.

|death_date =

|death_place =

|party = Democratic

|spouse = Kevin Lawrence

|children =

|education = Cornell College (BA)

|occupation = Writing tutor

}}

Elinor A. Levin (born 1987) is an American politician, tutor and former teacher who has represented the 89th district of the Iowa House of Representatives since January 2023, which consists of parts of central Johnson County, including much of southern Iowa City. She is a member of the Democratic Party.{{cite web |title=State Representative - All Years |url=https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislators/legislator/legislatorAllYears?personID=33992 |website=Iowa Legislature |access-date=June 1, 2024}}

Early life

Levin was born in 1987 in Palatine, Illinois, where she was raised. She graduated from William Fremd High School in 2005. She received a Bachelor of Arts in secondary education and English from Cornell College, and moved to Coralville, Iowa, in 2009 shortly after graduating. She moved to Iowa City in 2010.{{cite web |last1=Dunlap |first1=Natalie |title=Democrat Elinor Levin looking to bring new ideas to Iowa Statehouse |url=https://dailyiowan.com/2021/12/13/democrat-elinor-levin-looking-to-bring-new-ideas-to-iowa-statehouse/ |website=The Daily Iowan |access-date=June 1, 2024}}

Political career

Levin announced her candidacy for the open 89th district of the Iowa House of Representatives in November 2021, following decennial redistricting. She won the Democratic primaries on June 7, 2022, with over 63 percent of the vote, and defeated Republican Jacob Onken in the general election on November 8 by over 7,000 votes.{{cite web |title=Elinor Levin |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Elinor_Levin |website=Ballotpedia |access-date=June 1, 2024 |language=en}}

In 2024, Levin filed for reelection.{{cite web |last1=Murphy |first1=Erin |title=Meet the candidates: Levin running for re-election, Republicans vying to fill open NE Iowa seat |url=https://www.thegazette.com/campaigns-elections/meet-the-candidates-levin-running-for-re-election-republicans-vying-to-fill-open-ne-iowa-seat/ |website=The Gazette |access-date=June 1, 2024}} She defeated Ty Bopp in the Democratic primaries on June 4, 2024, by over 1,100 votes, and ran unopposed in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Levin currently serves on the Agriculture, Environmental Protection, Natural Resources, Public Safety, and Veteran Affairs committees.{{cite web |title=State Representative - Bills & Committees |url=https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislators/legislator?ga=90&personID=33992 |website=Iowa Legislature |access-date=June 1, 2024}}

Levin primarily runs on a grassroots campaign. She has said that her priorities include sustainable energy and combatting rural flight. She does not support the use of eminent domain for the construction of CO₂ pipelines. She is pro-choice.{{cite web |title=Q&A with Iowa House 89 candidate Elinor Levin |url=https://www.thegazette.com/candidates/qa-with-iowa-house-89-candidate-elinor-levin/ |website=The Gazette |access-date=June 1, 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Jordan |first1=Erin |title=One Iowa House 89 candidate wants to be loud, the other wants to listen |url=https://www.thegazette.com/campaigns-elections/one-iowa-house-89-candidate-wants-to-be-loud-the-other-wants-to-listen/ |website=The Gazette |access-date=June 1, 2024}}

Personal life

Levin is married to Kevin Lawrence, a United States Navy officer. They reside in Iowa City. She is a private writing tutor and a former public school teacher.

Levin is of Jewish descent though is not religious.{{cite web |last1=Levin |first1=Sarah |title=Representation Matters: State Representative Elinor Levin |url=https://thehumanist.com/features/profiles/representation-matters-state-representative-elinor-levin |website=TheHumanist.com |access-date=June 1, 2024 |date=29 April 2024}} She has described herself as queer.{{cite tweet|last=Levin|first=Elinor|user=LevinforIowa|number=1750897840233095444|title=Thank you victoryfund, for your faith a SECOND TIME AROUND! This endorsement means such a great deal to me, because the queer community BELONGS in Iowa. We've always been here, we always will be here, and we make this a better place.}}{{cite web |last1=Belin |first1=Laura |title=Elections bring more diversity to Iowa Legislature |url=https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2022/11/17/elections-bring-more-diversity-to-iowa-legislature/ |website=Iowa Capital Dispatch |access-date=June 1, 2024 |date=17 November 2022}}