{{Short description|Cuban-American businesswoman (born 1957)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2022}} {{Infobox politician | name = Leora Levy | image = Leora Levy confirmation hearing.png | office = Republican National Committeewoman<br>from Connecticut | term_start = 2016 | term_end = 2024 | successor = Annalisa Stravato | birth_name = Leora Mariana Rosenberg | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1957|3|31}} | birth_place = Havana, Cuba | death_date = | death_place = | spouse = {{marriage|Steven Levy|June 1, 1985}} | children = 3 | education = Brown University (BA) }} '''Leora Mariana Levy''' (''née'' '''Rosenberg'''; born March 31, 1957<ref>United States Public Records, 1970-2009</ref>) is a Cuban-born American businesswoman and politician. She was the Republican nominee in the 2022 United States Senate election in Connecticut.
== Early life and education ==
Levy was born in Cuba in 1957. Her mother and grandparents fled Lithuania in 1940.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Israel & the Middle East |url=https://leoraforct.com/issues/israel-the-middle-east/ |access-date=July 19, 2022 |website=Leora Levy - Official Senate Campaign Website |language=en-US}}</ref> Her family migrated to the United States in 1960 to escape Fidel Castro's regime.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |title=Trump-backed Levy wins GOP Senate primary in Connecticut |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/leora-levy-wins-republican-us-senate-primary-in-connecticut/2022/08/09/e0b76782-1858-11ed-b998-b2ab68f58468_story.html |access-date=2022-08-21 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> She earned a Bachelor of Arts from Brown University in International Relations.<ref name="WHBio">{{Cite web|url=https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/presidential-actions/president-donald-j-trump-announces-intent-nominate-appoint-personnel-key-administration-posts-32/|title=President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate and Appoint Personnel to Key Administration Posts |publisher=The White House|website=trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov|date=September 26, 2019}}{{PD-notice}}</ref><ref name="COC">{{Cite web |title=Levy, Leora Rosenberg - Republic of Chile - October 2019 |url=https://www.state.gov/levy-leora-rosenberg-republic-of-chile-october-2019/ |website=United States Department of State |language=en-US |access-date=May 5, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=After escaping Castro's Cuba as a child, Leora Levy has become the top Republican fundraiser in Connecticut|url=https://www.courant.com/politics/hc-pol-prescott-bush-dinner-leora-levy-20190916-gr6g5vvmg5cezizfshz3jiix3m-story.html|last=Keating|first=Christopher|newspaper=Hartford Courant|access-date=May 12, 2020}}</ref> Levy is Jewish and is fluent in Spanish.
== Career ==
Levy was one of the first female commodity traders to work as a sugar trader and an assistant vice president at Ambrit Sugars, as well as a traffic executive and trader for international sugar, steel and copper concentrates at Phibro-Salomon, Inc.<ref name="WHBio" />
Levy also serves on the Board of Directors of SoldierStrong, a non-profit organization based in Connecticut.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fenster |first1=By Jordan |title=Greenwich woman named U.S. ambassador to Chile |url=https://www.greenwichtime.com/local/article/Greenwich-woman-named-U-S-ambassador-to-Chile-14473471.php |work=Greenwich Time |date=27 September 2019 |language=en}}</ref>
== Politics == Levy was finance chairman of the Connecticut Republican Party from 2013 to 2015.<ref name="COC" /> She served as the finance chair for Republican Bob Stefanowski during his unsuccessful bid for Governor of Connecticut in 2018.<ref name="Greenwich">{{Cite news |last=Kroeker |first=Jo |date=December 12, 2019 |title=Trump ambassador hopeful Leora Levy of Greenwich once called him 'vulgar' |newspaper=Greenwich Time |url=https://www.greenwichtime.com/local/article/Trump-ambassador-hopeful-Leora-Levy-of-Greenwich-14902244.php |access-date=May 5, 2020}}</ref> She is a representative to the Republican National Committee for Connecticut. In 2019, Levy was named the winner of the Prescott Bush Award, the highest honor of the Connecticut Republican Party.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Altimari|first1=Daniela|last2=Keating|first2=Christopher|title=White House nominates Greenwich's Leora Levy to be U.S. ambassador to Chile|url=https://www.courant.com/politics/capitol-watch/hc-pol-leora-levy-chile-20190927-gcrxhcfjifd3pi6ihubxbbej3y-story.html|access-date=May 5, 2020|newspaper=Hartford Courant}}</ref><ref name=":0" />
In the 2016 Republican primary, she supported Florida Governor Jeb Bush. She criticized Donald Trump, saying at the time that he was "vulgar, ill-mannered and disparages those whom he cannot intimidate".<ref name=":0">{{Cite magazine|title=How Greenwich Republicans Learned to Love Trump|url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/05/11/how-greenwich-republicans-learned-to-love-trump|last=Osnos|first=Evan|magazine=The New Yorker|language=en|access-date=May 12, 2020|date=May 3, 2020}}</ref> She later applauded Trump's leadership.<ref name=":0" />
In February 2022, she voted for a package of RNC resolutions that included a censure of Reps. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger.
=== Ambassadorship nomination ===
On September 26, 2019, President Trump announced his intent to nominate Levy to be the next United States Ambassador to Chile.<ref name="WHBio" /> On October 25, 2019, her nomination was sent to the Senate.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/presidential-actions/twenty-five-nominations-three-withdrawals-sent-senate/|title=Twenty-five Nominations and Three Withdrawals Sent to the Senate |publisher=The White House|website=trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov|date=October 25, 2019}}</ref> On January 3, 2020, her nomination was returned to the President under Rule XXXI, Paragraph 6 of the United States Senate.<ref>{{Cite web |title=PN1162 - Nomination of Leora Rosenberg Levy for Department of State, 116th Congress (2019-2020) |url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/116th-congress/1162 |date=January 3, 2020 |website=Congress.gov |access-date=May 5, 2020}}</ref> On May 4, 2020, her renomination was sent to the Senate.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/presidential-actions/thirty-nominations-one-withdrawal-sent-senate/|title=Thirty Nominations and One Withdrawal Sent to the Senate |publisher=The White House|website=trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov|date=May 4, 2020}}</ref> On January 3, 2021, her nomination was returned to the President under the same Rule XXXI, Paragraph 6 of the United States Senate.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 3, 2021 |title=PN1734 - Nomination of Leora Rosenberg Levy for Department of State, 116th Congress (2019-2020) |url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/116th-congress/1734 |access-date=January 13, 2021 |website=Congress.gov}}</ref>
=== Candidacy for U.S. Senate === {{main|2022 United States Senate election in Connecticut}} In February 2022, Levy announced her candidacy for U.S. Senate to represent Connecticut, to run against incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal. The primary had been described as being between the moderate and conservative wings of the Republican party, with Levy being the conservative candidate against the more moderate former state House Minority Leader Themis Klarides. Abortion was a key issue within the primary, with Klarides supporting abortion rights and Levy supporting the right to life.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-26 |title=Klarides draws conservative criticism ahead of GOP primary |url=https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-abortion-gay-rights-richard-blumenthal-congress-ee74199fd27dc3a5b89a6af5c470b0c9 |access-date=2022-08-21 |website=AP NEWS |language=en}}</ref>
On August 4, 2022, five days before the Republican primary, former President Donald Trump endorsed Levy.<ref>{{cite web|last=Pazniokas|first=Mark|url=https://ctmirror.org/2022/08/04/donald-trump-endorses-leora-levy-for-u-s-senate-in-live-phone-call/|title=Donald Trump endorses Leora Levy for U.S. Senate in live phone call|work=The Connecticut Mirror|date=August 4, 2022|access-date=August 5, 2022}}</ref> On August 9, Levy defeated Klarides and attorney Peter Lumaj in the primary.<ref>{{cite news |title=Endorsed by Trump, Leora Levy Wins GOP U.S. Senate Primary in Connecticut |url=https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/decision-2022/endorsed-by-trump-leora-levy-wins-gop-u-s-senate-primary-in-connecticut/2849434/ |access-date=August 10, 2022 |work=NBC Connecticut |date=August 9, 2022}}</ref> Many have described her victory as an upset.<ref name=":2">{{cite web | url=https://news.yahoo.com/trump-backed-leora-levy-scores-172400969.html | title=Trump-backed Leora Levy scores MAGA upset in Connecticut GOP Senate primary | date=August 10, 2022 }}</ref><ref name=":3">{{cite web | url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/donald-trump-backed-gop-connecticut-primary-candidate-leora-levy-wins-upset | title=Donald Trump-backed GOP Connecticut primary candidate Leora Levy wins in upset | website=Fox News | date=August 10, 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.courant.com/politics/hc-pol-primary-vote-results-main-bar-20220810-slnbi6ddsbf65kaqc3kflww5sm-story.html | title=Leora Levy wins surprise victory for U.S. Senate after gaining Trump endorsement; Erick Russell wins for treasurer | date=August 10, 2022 }}</ref>
In her acceptance speech, Levy reminded supporters of her opposition to job-related vaccine requirements, and abortion and transgender rights.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pazniokas |first1=Mark |title=Who is Leora Levy? Meet the CT GOP candidate for U.S. Senate running on Trump's platform |url=https://ctmirror.org/2022/08/02/leora-levy-ct-gop-republican-candidate-us-senate-running-trump-platform// |access-date=October 28, 2022 |work=The Connecticut Mirror |date=August 2, 2022}}</ref>
On November 8, 2022, Blumenthal, with 57.5% of votes cast, convincingly defeated Levy to win a third term in the Senate.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Phillips |first1=Erica E. |last2=Hagen |first2=Lisa |date=2022-11-09 |title=CT Senate race results: Richard Blumenthal defeats Leora Levy |language=en-US |work=The Connecticut Mirror |url=http://ctmirror.org/2022/11/08/ct-senate-election-richard-blumenthal-leora-levy/ |access-date=2022-11-19}}</ref>
== Personal life == On June 2, 1985, Rosenberg married Stephen Levy, in Rye, New York. They have three sons and seven dogs. Levy resides in Greenwich, Connecticut.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1985-06-02 |title=LEORA ROSENBERG AND STEVEN LEVY ARE WED IN RYE |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/06/02/style/leora-rosenberg-and-steven-levy-are-wed-in-rye.html |access-date=2023-03-13 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
{{s-start}} {{s-ppo}} {{s-bef|before=Dan E. Carter}} {{s-ttl|title=Republican nominee for U.S. Senator from Connecticut<br>(Class 3)|years=2022}} {{s-inc|recent}} {{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Levy, Leora}} Category:1957 births Category:21st-century American businesswomen Category:21st-century American businesspeople Category:American people of Cuban-Jewish descent Category:American people of Lithuanian-Jewish descent Category:Brown University alumni Category:Candidates in the 2022 United States Senate elections Category:Connecticut Republicans Category:Cuban emigrants to the United States Category:21st-century Cuban Jews Category:Living people Category:Philanthropists from Connecticut Category:Jewish American women in politics Category:Jewish businesswomen