In December 2017, Levin announced that he would retire from Congress at the end of his current term, and not seek re-election in 2018.

Levin was born in Detroit, Michigan, the son of Jewish parents Bess Rachel (née Levinson) and Saul R.

[8] He made unsuccessful campaigns for Governor of Michigan in 1970 and 1974, both times losing to Republican William Milliken.

Levin won the Democratic primary in Michigan's 17th congressional district with 49% of the vote,[9] which at that time included northwestern Detroit as well as parts of Macomb and Oakland counties.

[14] In 2000, Detroit Metro area businessman Bart Baron gained the endorsement of the United Auto Workers Union, but Levin still managed to win re-election with 64% of the vote.

[15] The 2000s redistricting added heavily Democratic Southfield and Mount Clemens to the district, and he won re-election in every election with at least 61% of the vote since.

Levin took over as chairman of the Ways and Means committee on March 4, 2010, when Charles B. Rangel of New York stepped aside in due to a number of ethics violations.

In a private ceremony in July 2012, Levin married Pamela Cole, age 61, a Pennsylvania State University psychology professor who studies emotional development.

Cole and Levin worked to create a fund in her name for young professionals researching early childhood development.

His younger brother Carl Levin was the state's senior Senator until his retirement in January 2015.

His son Andy Levin was an unsuccessful candidate for the Michigan Senate in 2006, but in 2018 was elected to succeed him in the United States House of Representatives.