Elinor Levin wins Democratic primary in House District 89, with a platform to keep people in Iowa
Tuesday’s primary election results were particularly gratifying for Elinor Levin, who won the Democratic primary race for Iowa House District 89.
The candidate said she was told by people the moment wasn’t possible “because you don’t play the game.”
District 89 covers most of Iowa City’s south side and a portion of East Lucas Township. Levin spent Tuesday evening with loved ones, telling the Press-Citizen she was “stunned” and “excited” after hearing the results.
“Since we found out that I was not in this race alone since December, when other people declared that they were running, (people) who have basically said, ‘It's great that you're running. I love what you’re saying, you're communicative. You're clearly a good candidate. It just can't happen,'” Levin said.
But it did.
Levin won 63% of the vote. Tony Currin, an activist and affirmative action chair of the Johnson County Democratic Central Committee, picked up 37% of the vote.
“We’re both Democrats,” Currin said. “My whole thing is, 'blue no matter who.'”
Currin said the Democratic Party will come together and do what needs to be done.
“Tonight, the Democrats won,” he said. “That’s important to rally the Democratic Party together.”
If elected in November — and their currently is no Republican opponent on the ballot —Levin would replace longtime state Rep. Mary Mascher, who announced last year that she would not run for reelection. Mascher told the Press-Citizen in November she would like to see another teacher or academic, like herself, run for her Iowa House seat, but really just wants someone who reflects the values of Iowa City.
Levin fits that bill.
Levin told the Press-Citizen in November that she met Mascher through her involvement in the League of Women Voters of Johnson County. She then started to pay attention “to what was happening in our school boards, our local government, county government and state government" and felt she could do the most good at the state level.
Levin, 34, is a private writing tutor and former English teacher. She grew up in the Chicago suburbs and has lived in Iowa off and on since graduating from Cornell College with degrees in education and English. Levin has lived in Iowa City’s South District for more than four years, becoming involved in the community and arts organizations as a member of the South District Neighborhood Association and president of the Iowa City Community Theater.
Among Levin’s focuses are listening and connecting with constituents and investing in creating a state that does not deter working-aged people from leaving.
Levin's belief: Keeping people in Iowa means looking at businesses, human rights
Levin said her concern is that in Iowa City, people live in an “amazing little bubble” where there is much to do and be part of regardless of their interests.
The way she sees it: As young people leave the state, and with generally fewer people coming to rural areas to begin with, there are less young people to take over leadership opportunities and form meaningful connections that may keep them rooted here.
Supporting people starting a business and connecting people to jobs are among the ways legislation can keep people in Iowa, Levin believes.
“What if statewide we made it a little bit easier for people to find jobs that might be the job that keeps them here,” she said. “It definitely includes making sure that local jurisdictions that feel that they need to do something like set a higher minimum wage have the ability to do so.”
Levin participated in the League of Women Voters of Johnson County forum in early May and was asked about “home rule,” or the ability of city or county governments to exercise powers of governance rather than leaving it up to the state or federal government.
At the forum, Levin said education and the minimum wage are among the issues that should be left to local government.
Levin said making sure people feel safe and everyone has the right to vote are also ways to ensure people remain in Iowa.
Part of that includes protecting people’s human rights.
The leak of a U.S. Supreme Court draft decision that would overturn Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood V. Casey has been a topic asked to candidates in the primary elections. Levin was asked that at the League of Women Voters of Johnson County forum in May, saying that “bodily autonomy” is not up for debate, and that the government is not needed in that decision-making process.
Levin's plan: Letting constituents lead the conversation
Levin has emphasized an interest in getting to know her constituents in order to inform her votes.
She said she has found that means letting them lead the conversation. Through that, their concerns and what they want to see from government is revealed.
Forming those connections extends to working with Republicans in the Legislature, Levin said. Republicans currently hold a 60-40 majority in the Iowa House and a 32-18 majority in the Senate. With seats open in the House, new people means the possibility of restarting previously held conversations, Levin said. Starting those conversations begins with asking a question, Levin said.
Levin said among the things she would like to work on immediately if elected in November are environmental protection, including addressing corn subsidies and ethanol, and improving gun ownership access and gun storage regulations.
“I want to acknowledge the fact that while I have worked hard to learn about our legislative process here, as an outsider, I know I'm not going to have any clue what I'm doing when I get there,” she said. “It doesn't matter how many times you go and shadow somebody. So I'm not going to pretend I think I'm going to go in and start changing the way we do business.”
Paris Barraza covers entertainment, lifestyle and arts at the Iowa City Press-Citizen. Reach her at PBarraza@press-citizen.com or (319) 519-9731. Follow her on Twitter @ParisBarraza.
This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Iowa City primary winner Elinor Levin plans to lead by listening
