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Jim Costa

U.S. House · CA-21 · Democrats · since 2025

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Candidate for U.S. House · CA-21

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Biography

Overview

Jim Costa is a Democratic U.S. Representative serving California's 21st congressional district since 2023. Previously, he represented the 20th district (2005–2013) and the 16th district (2013–2023). He has nearly 50 years of legislative experience, having served in the California State Assembly (1978–1994) and California State Senate (1994–2002) before joining Congress. His Central Valley district includes most of Fresno County. Costa is known for his work on agriculture, rural development, and livestock policy.

Career

Costa previously chaired the Blue Dog Coalition (a group of moderate Democrats) during the 116th Congress and chaired the Livestock and Foreign Agriculture Subcommittee during the 117th Congress. In the California Legislature, he served as Majority Caucus Chair in the State Assembly and as president of the National Conference of State Legislatures (2000–2001). He was instrumental in crafting the bipartisan Farmworker Modernization Act and co-sponsors the Women's Health Protection Act. He introduced legislation in 2017 allowing Hmong and Laotian-American veterans burial in national cemeteries, which was enacted in 2018. Costa called for President Biden's withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race in July 2024, and in 2025 voted to censure Congressman Al Green alongside all Republicans.

Prior political experience

Costa has represented three different congressional districts over his 20-year House tenure. In 2004, he won the Democratic primary for California's 20th District with 53% against Republican Roy Ashburn. He ran unopposed in 2006. In 2008, he won re-election with 74% of the vote. In 2010, he narrowly defeated Republican Andy Vidak with 51.8% in a close race. In 2012, due to redistricting, he moved to the newly formed 16th District and won with 54% against Republican Brian Whelan. In 2014, he defeated Republican Johnny Tacherra by 1,319 votes. In 2016, he won with 58% against Tacherra. In 2018, he won 57.5% against Republican Elizabeth Heng. In 2020, he defeated Kevin Cookingham with 59.4%. In 2022, after redistricting to District 21, he won with 54.2% against Michael Maher. In 2024, he defeated Maher again with 52.6% in a rematch.

Biographical material adapted from the Wikipedia article (retrieved April 29, 2026), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Ideology

Liberal–Conservative (DW-NOMINATE dim 1)

Liberal
Conservative
119th Congress-0.199

Secondary axis (DW-NOMINATE dim 2)(?)

−1
+1
+0.449
Source: Voteview DW-NOMINATE · 332 scored votes

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Officeholding history

TermSeatTerm datesTerminationPredecessorSuccessor
2ndU.S. House CA-212025–presentIn progressJim Costa—
1stU.S. House CA-212023–2025Term endedDavid G. ValadaoJim Costa
5thU.S. House CA-162021–2023Term endedJim CostaSam T. Liccardo
4thU.S. House CA-162019–2021Term endedJim CostaJim Costa
3rdU.S. House CA-162017–2019Term endedJim CostaJim Costa
2ndU.S. House CA-162015–2017Term endedJim CostaJim Costa
1stU.S. House CA-162013–2015Term endedZoe LofgrenJim Costa
4thU.S. House CA-202011–2013Term endedJim CostaJimmy Panetta
3rdU.S. House CA-202009–2011Term endedJim CostaJim Costa
2ndU.S. House CA-202007–2009Term endedJim CostaJim Costa
1stU.S. House CA-202005–2007Term ended—Jim Costa

Committee assignments

Current term legislation

Bills sponsored this term10

Bills cosponsored this term10

Elections

YearSeatResultVote shareField
2024U.S. House CA-16Won59.38%