Sander Levin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sander Levin
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Michigan
In office January 3, 1983 – January 3, 2019
Preceded by	William M. Brodhead
Succeeded by	Andy Levin
Constituency	17th district (1983–1993) 12th district (1993–2013) 9th district (2013–2019)
Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee
In office March 4, 2010 – January 3, 2011
Preceded by	Charlie Rangel
Succeeded by	Dave Camp
Member of the Michigan Senate from the 15th district
In office January 13, 1965 – January 13, 1971
Preceded by	John W. Fitzgerald
Succeeded by	Daniel S. Cooper
Personal details
Born	Sander Martin Levin (1931-09-06) September 6, 1931 (age 93) Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouses	Vicki Schlafer ​ ​ (m. 1958; died 2008)​ Pamela Cole ​ (m. 2012)​
Children	4, including Andy
Relatives	Carl Levin (brother)
Education	University of Chicago (BA) Columbia University (MA) Harvard University (LLB)
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Sander Martin Levin (born September 6, 1931) is an American politician. He served in the United States House of Representatives for many years. From 1983 to 2019, he represented different areas of Michigan.

Sander Levin is a member of the Democratic Party. He was a very important member of the House Ways and Means Committee. He even led this committee as its Chairman from 2010 to 2011.

His younger brother, Carl Levin, was a U.S. Senator. Sander Levin's son, Andy Levin, later became a Congressman too. Andy took over his father's seat in Congress.

In December 2017, Sander Levin announced he would retire. He did not run for re-election in 2018. His son Andy was elected on November 6, 2018. Andy started his term in Congress on January 3, 2019.

Early Life and School

Sander Levin was born in Detroit, Michigan. His parents, Bess Rachel and Saul R. Levin, were Jewish. He went to Central High School in Detroit.

He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Chicago in 1952. Then, he got a master's degree in international relations from Columbia University in 1954. He also earned a law degree from Harvard Law School in 1957. After finishing school, he became a lawyer in Detroit.

Starting in State Politics

In 1962, Levin became the leader of the Democratic Party in Oakland County. He was elected as a State Senator for the 15th district in 1964. He won against a Republican named George W. Kuhn.

Levin served as a State Senator until 1970. In 1967, he was chosen to lead the Michigan Democratic Party. He also served as the Senate minority leader from 1969 to 1970. He left this role to run for governor.

He tried to become Governor of Michigan in 1970 and 1974. Both times, he lost to the Republican candidate, William Milliken. In 1975, he was a special guest at the Harvard Kennedy School. From 1977 to 1981, he worked for the Agency for International Development. This agency helps other countries.

Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives

How He Was Elected

In 1982, the current Democratic Congressman, William Brodhead, decided not to run again. Sander Levin won the Democratic primary election. He received 49% of the votes in Michigan's 17th congressional district. This district included parts of Detroit, Macomb, and Oakland counties.

Levin then won the main election in 1982 with 67% of the votes. He usually won re-election with at least 56% of the votes. There were a few close elections in 1992 and 1994. After the 1990 United States census, his district was renamed the 12th district. It no longer included parts of Detroit.

In 1992, he had a close race against John Pappageorge, winning 53%-46%. They ran against each other again in 1994. Even though it was a time when many Republicans were winning, Levin still won 52%-47%. He defeated Pappageorge a third time in 1996 by a larger margin. Levin continued to win re-election easily in the 2000s.

2012 Election

After new district maps were drawn, Levin's district was combined with another Democrat's district. This new district kept the number 9. It was still a very Democratic area. Levin won his 16th term in Congress with 61.4% of the votes.

His Work on Committees

Sander Levin was a key member of the Committee on Ways and Means. This committee deals with taxes and other money matters for the country. He was once the "Ranking Member," meaning the top Democrat on the committee.

He also worked on two subcommittees:

• Subcommittee on Trade (where he was the Ranking Member)
• Subcommittee on Income Security

Levin became the chairman of the Ways and Means committee on March 4, 2010. He took over when the previous chairman stepped down. Levin served as chairman until January 2011. He remained the top Democrat on the committee until the end of 2016.

He was also part of the House Baltic Caucus and the Congressional Arts Caucus. These groups focus on specific interests in Congress.

His Political Views

Foreign Policy

As a member of Congress, Levin was a strong supporter of Israel. He also supported the nuclear deal with Iran. He believed this deal would make Israel, the Middle East, and the world safer.

His Family Life

Sander Levin was married to Vicki Schlafer for 50 years. She passed away on September 4, 2008. They had four children: Andy, Jennifer, Madeleine, and Matthew. They also had ten grandchildren.

In July 2012, Levin married Pamela Cole. She is a psychology professor who studies how emotions develop in children. They met through his late wife, Vicki. Pamela and Sander worked together to create a fund in Vicki's name. This fund helps young professionals who research early childhood development.

The Levin family has a long history in Michigan politics. His younger brother, Carl Levin, was a senior U.S. Senator until he retired in 2015. His uncle, Theodore, was a federal judge. His first cousin, Charles, was a judge on the Michigan Supreme Court. Another cousin, Joseph Levin, also ran for Congress. As mentioned, his son Andy Levin was elected to Congress in 2018, taking over his father's seat.

See also

• List of Jewish members of the United States Congress