Mike Levin backs Rimga Viskanta in Encinitas mayor’s race

U.S. Rep. Mike Levin has endorsed Rimga Viskanta for Encinitas mayor, adding to backing from local Democratic organizations ahead of the November 2026 election. The endorsement spotlights Viskanta’s government and sustainability background as she seeks to run City Hall on clean energy, safer streets and local action.

Why it matters: - Levin’s endorsement gives Viskanta support from a sitting member of Congress with deep ties to Encinitas and North County. - The backing adds momentum as Viskanta positions herself as a pragmatic, results-driven candidate in the November 2026 mayor’s race. - The endorsement also aligns Viskanta with clean energy, safer streets and homelessness as core campaign themes.

What happened: - Viskanta’s mayoral campaign announced that U.S. Rep. Mike Levin endorsed her bid for Encinitas mayor on July 13, 2026. - Levin has represented Encinitas and California’s 49th Congressional District since 2019. - The San Diego County Democratic Party and the Encinitas & North Coast Democratic Club also are backing Viskanta. - Levin called Viskanta a candidate with integrity, energy, work ethic and a fresh voice. - Viskanta said she was honored by Levin’s support and wants to bring that style of leadership to City Hall.

The details: - Levin has built a record around bipartisan work and has secured more than $1 billion in federal funding for the district. - That funding has included money for clean energy, safer streets and homelessness. - Viskanta has spent nearly a decade working inside local government in accounting and sustainability roles. - At the City of Solana Beach, Viskanta served as a Senior Management Analyst and worked across the City Manager’s Office, Finance, Engineering, Public Works, the Office of the Clerk and Planning. - Viskanta drafted ordinances covering Public Arts, Elections Code and Conflict of Interest Code rules. - Viskanta led implementation and a five-year update of Solana Beach’s Climate Action Plan. - Viskanta also managed the citywide SB 1383 organics recycling and edible food recovery program. - Viskanta coordinated with other cities and regional agencies on sustainability, homelessness and intergovernmental partnerships. - Earlier in her career, Viskanta worked as a public sector consultant at KPMG helping Marine Corps Base Quantico improve workload and process efficiency. - Viskanta has served for nearly eight years as an elected school board trustee. - She served on the Encinitas Union School District Board from 2016 to 2020 and was board president during the COVID-19 pandemic. - During that period, Encinitas Union became one of the first districts in the region to safely return to in-person learning. - Viskanta was elected to the San Dieguito Union High School District Board in 2022. - She has served as board president twice and currently is vice president. - Viskanta holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Southern California with an emphasis in public sector accounting and financial management. - She also holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental sciences from the University of Virginia. - Viskanta completed the Masters in Governance certificate program through the California School Boards Association. - Viskanta’s campaign says local control alone is not enough and that Encinitas needs local action. - The campaign website listed in the release is the campaign site. - The release also included social media links for Instagram and Facebook.

Between the lines: - Levin’s endorsement reinforces Viskanta’s pitch that municipal government should be practical and collaborative rather than ideological. - The combination of congressional, party and club support suggests Viskanta is consolidating Democratic backing early in the race. - Viskanta’s resume is being framed around operations, sustainability and school governance, which fits a local government-focused campaign.

What's next: - Viskanta will continue campaigning ahead of the November 2026 general election. - The campaign is asking voters to evaluate her on local management experience, climate policy work and school board leadership. - If elected, Viskanta says she will work with residents, schools, nonprofits and neighboring cities to deliver results at City Hall.