Jacob Caplan Levine is an American lawyer and politician, who served as senior director for climate and energy on the United States National Security Council during the presidency of Joe Biden. A member of the Democratic Party, Levine was the chief climate officer for the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation from 2021 to 2024.

Early life and education

Levine is the son of former U.S. Representative Mel Levine. Levine was raised in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, in a home that would later be destroyed in the Palisades Fire.

Levine was educated at Harvard-Westlake School, graduating in 2002. He received his Bachelor of Arts from Harvard College in 2007, before graduating from Harvard Law School with a Juris Doctor in 2013.

Career

As an aide to President Barack Obama, Levine served in the White House Office of Energy and Climate Change Policy, and later as energy and technology policy advisor to California State Senator Fran Pavley.

Levine was a key figure in the public utility software as a service company Opower, where he was chief of staff, strategy director, and director of Latin American regulatory affairs.

During the presidency of Joe Biden, Levine served as the chief climate officer for the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation from 2021 to 2024. When he began working for the Biden administration, Levine said that their goal was pursuing "the most ambitious climate agenda of any major development finance institution in the world." From August 2024 to January 2025, Levine was a special assistant to President Biden and senior director for climate and energy on the United States National Security Council.

2026 U.S. House campaign

On August 5, 2025, Levine announced a campaign for the United States House of Representatives against incumbent Brad Sherman, to represent California's 32nd congressional district. His candidacy has been analyzed as part of a trend in 2026 of younger primary challengers to Democratic incumbents.

Levine refused donations from corporate PACs during his campaign, a major point of contrast with Sherman. He was endorsed by J Street and the League of Conservation Voters, and campaigned as a supporter of the Sepulveda Transit Corridor.

Personal life

Levine became engaged to journalist Jacqueline Alemany in 2023. The couple married on October 3, 2024, and their first child was born in 2025. They reside in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles. Levine is Jewish.

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