Savage was born in Detroit, Michigan and graduated from Roosevelt College. Savage served in the United States Army from 1943 to 1946. Savage worked as a journalist from 1954 to 1979, owning a chain of community weekly newspapers in the Chicago area. He was unsuccessful in his candidacy for the House of Representatives in 1968 and 1970. Savage won election to the House of Representatives in 1980. Savage caused some controversy as he claimed that only white people could be racist, while also making statements against both white and Jewish people which were considered to be racist and anti-semitic. In 1989, Savage was accused of trying to force himself on a Peace Corps worker in Zaire. Savage denied these allegations and blamed it on the "racist press". In January 1990, the House Ethics Committee decided that the events did occur, but did not take disciplinary action because Savage wrote a letter of apology to the woman.

Before the 1992 elections, his district was altered due to redistricting and Savage faced Mel Reynolds in the primary election. Reynolds had challenged Savage in 1986, 1988 and 1990. Savage claimed that "racist Jews" were donating to Reynolds and Reynolds was involved in a drive-by shooting which some aides claimed happened due to Savage's remarks. Savage accused Reynolds of staging the shooting. Savage lost by a large margin to Reynolds when the election was held.