Incumbent
Jim Costa
CA-21 primary: first place
$1.4K
JUN 6, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleU.S. Representative
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyModerate Democrat
Age74 years old (Apr 13, 1952)
GenderMale
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LocationCalifornia
BackgroundPolitician
EducationSan Joaquin Memorial High School (graduated 1970)
Notable personal detailsJames Manuel Costa is a Democratic U.S. Representative from California, serving in the U.S. House since January 3, 2005. He represented California districts now numbered as the 20th, 16th, and 21st. Before Congress, he served in the California State Assembly (1978–1994) and California State Senate (1994–2002). He earned a B.A. from California State University, Fresno in 1974.
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Positions
Economy & Taxes
Supports targeted tax and revenue measures that fund social programs and deficit reduction, including votes in favor of the American Rescue Plan and the Inflation Reduction Act’s corporate minimum tax and buyback excise tax; opposes Republican tax bills he says would increase the deficit and raise taxes on middle-class families.
Healthcare
Supports strengthening and expanding access to the Affordable Care Act and federal programs (including protecting Medicaid/Medi‑Cal and strengthening Medicare); advocates policies to lower premiums and expand coverage and federal funding for medical training in underserved areas.
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Immigration & Border
Supports permanent protections and a pathway to legal status for Dreamers and other longstanding undocumented residents, and has sponsored/coauthored bipartisan bills to provide legal status for farmworkers and modernize guest-worker programs. Advocates for oversight and accountability of immigration enforcement and for “smart, effective” border security measures such as hiring Border Patrol agents and investing in detection technology. Pursues bipartisan, enforcement-plus-regularization approaches rather than maximal restrictionist policies.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Jim Costa supports abortion rights and has expressed support for codifying reproductive rights at the federal level. He has received high ratings from pro-choice organizations and appears on pro-choice roll calls and scorecards indicating support for restoring access to abortion.
Climate & Energy
The candidate has a mixed record on climate and energy: he supports conservation, agricultural resilience, and some clean-energy investments while also advocating a balanced/transition approach that does not rule out continued fossil fuel use. Public statements and votes show support for renewable and conservation programs alongside votes or positions that limit aggressive regulatory approaches.
Public Safety & Guns
Supports federal gun safety measures including enhanced and universal background checks, funding for red-flag/extreme-risk protections, and reauthorizing an assault weapons ban; also backed legislation to restrict large-capacity magazines and protect minors from purchasing assault weapons.
Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 20262022
2024
2026
LatestCycle 2022
Cycle 2024
Cycle 2026
Source: FEC
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