OCEANSIDE — Two Oceanside council members and the city’s police union have endorsed San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond in his bid for Congress, joining a growing list of local supporters for the Republican candidate.
Desmond, who seeks to unseat Democratic Rep. Mike Levin in California’s 49th Congressional District in 2026, has represented North County on the Board of Supervisors for six years. Termed out in 2026, Desmond previously served as the mayor of San Marcos.
Oceanside City Council members Peter Weiss and Rick Robinson, along with the Oceanside Police Officers’ Association (OPOA), recently announced their endorsements for Desmond.
Weiss, Robinson and OPOA join several Desmond backers, including Vista Mayor John Franklin, Escondido Mayor Dane White, San Marcos Mayor Rebecca Jones, Carlsbad Councilmember Melanie Burkholder and former San Juan Capistrano mayor Brian Maryott (who has twice lost to Levin).
Weiss described Desmond as a “tireless advocate for Oceanside” as a county supervisor.
“From securing funding for public safety to standing up for our local businesses and infrastructure, Jim has always fought for our community,” Weiss said. “His leadership is exactly what we need in Washington, and I am proud to endorse him for Congress.”
Robinson echoed Weiss’s support, citing Desmond’s focus on Oceanside’s needs.
“Jim has consistently put Oceanside first – whether it’s pushing for solutions to restore our beaches, supporting our first responders, or ensuring our community has the resources it needs to thrive,” Robinson said. “We need a leader who listens, takes action, and gets things done. Jim Desmond is that leader, and I am honored to support him.”
In its endorsement, OPOA Vice President Joe Roy praised Desmond as a “steadfast supporter of law enforcement.”
“He understands the challenges our officers face and has fought to ensure we have the resources, training, and support needed to protect our communities,” Roy said. “Jim has our full trust, and we know he will continue to be a champion for law enforcement and public safety in Congress.”
OPOA previously endorsed Levin, who has represented the 49th District since 2019. The district spans northern San Diego County and southern Orange County, including Carlsbad, Oceanside, Vista, Encinitas, San Clemente, Dana Point, Laguna Niguel, and San Juan Capistrano.
Levin, who filed for re-election in 2026, won a third term in November after defeating Republican challengers. According to his website, Levin has secured approximately $1.07 billion in federal funding for the 49th District.
Projects Levin has championed in Oceanside include $29.3 million to replace North County Transit District natural gas buses with hydrogen fuel buses and $1.7 million for a hydrogen fueling station. Other projects include $9.9 million for the Pure Water Oceanside program, $5.3 million to expand groundwater purification, and $2.3 million for the city’s Navigation Center, its first year-round homeless shelter.
Levin also supported the American Rescue Plan Act, which allocated $32.3 million to Oceanside and $28.1 million to the Oceanside Unified School District during the COVID-19 pandemic.
