Levy first attempted to enter politics in the 1979 federal election, finishing third as the New Democratic Party candidate in Annapolis Valley—Hants.[3] He ran again in the 1980 federal election, but again finished third.[3] In the 1981 provincial election, Levy ran in the Kings North riding, placing second behind Progressive Conservative incumbent Edward Twohig.[4] In January 1984, Levy was nominated as the NDP candidate for a byelection in Kings South resulting from the resignation of MLA Harry How.[5] On February 21, 1984, Levy finished second in the byelection, losing to Progressive Conservative candidate Paul Kinsman by 917 votes.[6][7] In the 1984 election, Levy ran again in Kings South, defeating Kinsman by 21 votes.[8] Levy was nominated to seek re-election in 1988, but resigned the day before the election was called when Nova Scotia Premier John Buchanan appointed him a family court judge.[9][10]