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Second Democrat Jumps into Issa Race

Major Democratic donor Mike Levin announces run

Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., has another Democratic challenger for 2018. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo)
Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., has another Democratic challenger for 2018. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo)

A second Democrat is jumping into the race to challenge Republican Rep. Darrell Issa in California.

Mike Levin, an environmental lawyer based in San Juan Capistrano, announced his candidacy Wednesday.

Levin is a member of the board of directors for the Center for Sustainable Energy and is director of government affairs for FuelCell Energy, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Levin has also worked in Democratic politics, as his profile page shows he was on the National Finance Committee for Hillary ’s 2016 presidential run. Clinton’s campaign website labeled him as a “Hillblazer” who either contributed or raised more than $100,000. 

In addition, Levin served as executive director for the Orange County Democratic Party and donated money to it.

Federal Election Commission documents show that he has also given to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the Democratic National Committee and John Kerry’s 2004 presidential campaign.

In his announcement, Levin expressed frustration that Issa relentlessly pursued the Obama administration with what he considers frivolous investigations while he was chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

“Now, faced with mounting evidence of conflicts of interest, dishonesty and malfeasance in the administration of Donald Trump, a candidate he enthusiastically backed, Issa is failing to exercise the independence and courage that our nation so desperately needs,” Levin said.

That is not entirely true, as Issa has called for an independent prosecutor to investigate communications between Trump’s campaign and Russia.

Last year, Issa faced his first real challenge since first being elected in 2000 against retired Marine Corps Col. Doug Applegate, winning by 1,621 votes. Applegate has already announced he plans a rematch against Issa.

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