Reelect Congressional Representative Jim Costa to keep CD-21 on the right track for progress.
Rep. Jim Costa maintains a centrist track record in Congress, and has been a frequent recipient of donations from problematic corporate and fossil fuel funders. Given these associations, it is critical that voters continue to hold him accountable to ensure that his legislative efforts remain in the best interests of the district and constituents. In the general election cycle, the threat of Republican challenger Michael Maher’s potential policies greatly outweighs Rep. Costa’s moderate approach to legislating. Based on our analysis, Rep. Costa’s policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a representative leader for the constituents of CD-21 and will govern effectively for this diverse district if he is subjected to increased community accountability.
Progressive endorsements: Rep. Costa has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including CHC BOLD PAC. He has also received the endorsement of several state leaders, including Governor Gavin Newsom, Senator Alex Padilla, and Senator Dianne Feinstein. However, Rep. Costa has also received donations from big oil companies and a variety of other problematic donors, including PG&E Corporation, National Association of Realtors, Koch Industries, Halliburton Company, and Berkshire Hathaway Energy PAC.
Top issues: Tax credits for biodiesel, water infrastructure improvements, flood control, foreign affairs and collaboration, and child abuse and crime victims’ rights.
Priority bills: This year, Rep. Costa’s priorities for his current district, CD-16, have included 18 bills about water resources, international affairs, and law enforcement. All of these sponsored bills are currently in committee or referred to committee. Included in his sponsored bills this term is legislation that seeks to provide grants to expand medical schools, reauthorize federal grants for high-speed rail development, establish international legislative collaborations, and raise awareness for crime victims’ rights. Rep. Costa has also sponsored legislation that aims to reduce accountability for fossil fuel and oil companies, many of which provide his campaign with financial support, including legislation to give income tax credits for biodiesel fuels.
Member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus?: No
Committee leadership/membership: Rep. Costa currently serves on three committees: Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Foreign Affairs. He is the chair of the subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture. Rep. Costa is a member of the Blue Dog Democrats, a centrist and fiscally conservative coalition.
Governance and community leadership experience: Rep. Costa has served in this congressional seat since 2004, when he was elected with over 60% of the vote. In 2020, he won his reelection against Republican challenger Kevin Cookingham by 18 points.
He has been involved in public service since 1978 and has served eight terms in the California State Assembly, four terms in the state Senate, and nine terms in Congress. He is a third-generation farmer, and, despite his ties to Big Oil, has been a persistent proponent of water conservation, air-pollution control, and securing agricultural resources for the San Joaquin Valley.
Other background: Rep. Jim Costa, a career public official, is a lifelong resident of the San Joaquin Valley. He attended California State University–Fresno, and has leveraged his agricultural knowledge and local connections to legislate on behalf of the local farming community.
The Race
Primary election results: The June 2022 results included Rep. Jim Costa (D), 47%; Michael Maher (R), 26%; Matt Stoll (R), 17%; and Eric Garcia (D), 10%. Incumbent Rep. Jim Costa and Michael Maher will compete in a run-off in the November 8 general election.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Rep. Costa’s campaign has raised $1.5 million and is not funded by police interests. He has received significant donations from problematic stakeholders, including Sempra Energy, Phillips 66 PAC, National Apartment Association PAC, Google Netpac, ExxonMobil Corporation PAC, and Amazon PAC.
Opposing candidate: Republican Michael Maher
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Maher’s campaign has raised $61,000 and is primarily funded by individual donors.
The District
Counties in district: California’s 21st Congressional District includes parts of Fresno and Tulare Counties.
Voter registration: 44% Democrat, 26% Republican, and 22% No Party Preference. Republicans typically hold this district, although it was briefly held by Democrats in 2018, when TJ Cox won and flipped it for a single term. Since the 2021 redistricting process, CD-21 is 2% less Democratic than it was during the 2020 general election cycle.
District demographics: 53% Latino, 10% Asian, and 6% Black. This district is considered to be one of the 16 strong Latino seats in the California congressional delegation.
Recent election results: CD-21 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 20 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018 by 13 points.
The Position
Congressmembers represent and advocate for the needs of their district constituents at the United States Capitol. They are responsible for creating, debating, and voting on legislation that addresses issues within their district.
The United States is divided into 435 congressional districts, each with a population of about 710,000 individuals. Each district elects a representative to the House of Representatives for a two-year term. California has 53 congressional representatives, the largest delegation in the country. There is no term limit for this position.
Reelect Congressional Representative Jim Costa to keep CD-21 on the right track for progress.
Rep. Jim Costa maintains a centrist track record in Congress, and has been a frequent recipient of donations from problematic corporate and fossil fuel funders. Given these associations, it is critical that voters continue to hold him accountable to ensure that his legislative efforts remain in the best interests of the district and constituents. In the general election cycle, the threat of Republican challenger Michael Maher’s potential policies greatly outweighs Rep. Costa’s moderate approach to legislating. Based on our analysis, Rep. Costa’s policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a representative leader for the constituents of CD-21 and will govern effectively for this diverse district if he is subjected to increased community accountability.
Progressive endorsements: Rep. Costa has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including CHC BOLD PAC. He has also received the endorsement of several state leaders, including Governor Gavin Newsom, Senator Alex Padilla, and Senator Dianne Feinstein. However, Rep. Costa has also received donations from big oil companies and a variety of other problematic donors, including PG&E Corporation, National Association of Realtors, Koch Industries, Halliburton Company, and Berkshire Hathaway Energy PAC.
Top issues: Tax credits for biodiesel, water infrastructure improvements, flood control, foreign affairs and collaboration, and child abuse and crime victims’ rights.
Priority bills: This year, Rep. Costa’s priorities for his current district, CD-16, have included 18 bills about water resources, international affairs, and law enforcement. All of these sponsored bills are currently in committee or referred to committee. Included in his sponsored bills this term is legislation that seeks to provide grants to expand medical schools, reauthorize federal grants for high-speed rail development, establish international legislative collaborations, and raise awareness for crime victims’ rights. Rep. Costa has also sponsored legislation that aims to reduce accountability for fossil fuel and oil companies, many of which provide his campaign with financial support, including legislation to give income tax credits for biodiesel fuels.
Member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus?: No
Committee leadership/membership: Rep. Costa currently serves on three committees: Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Foreign Affairs. He is the chair of the subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture. Rep. Costa is a member of the Blue Dog Democrats, a centrist and fiscally conservative coalition.
Governance and community leadership experience: Rep. Costa has served in this congressional seat since 2004, when he was elected with over 60% of the vote. In 2020, he won his reelection against Republican challenger Kevin Cookingham by 18 points.
He has been involved in public service since 1978 and has served eight terms in the California State Assembly, four terms in the state Senate, and nine terms in Congress. He is a third-generation farmer, and, despite his ties to Big Oil, has been a persistent proponent of water conservation, air-pollution control, and securing agricultural resources for the San Joaquin Valley.
Other background: Rep. Jim Costa, a career public official, is a lifelong resident of the San Joaquin Valley. He attended California State University–Fresno, and has leveraged his agricultural knowledge and local connections to legislate on behalf of the local farming community.
The Race
Primary election results: The June 2022 results included Rep. Jim Costa (D), 47%; Michael Maher (R), 26%; Matt Stoll (R), 17%; and Eric Garcia (D), 10%. Incumbent Rep. Jim Costa and Michael Maher will compete in a run-off in the November 8 general election.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Rep. Costa’s campaign has raised $1.5 million and is not funded by police interests. He has received significant donations from problematic stakeholders, including Sempra Energy, Phillips 66 PAC, National Apartment Association PAC, Google Netpac, ExxonMobil Corporation PAC, and Amazon PAC.
Opposing candidate: Republican Michael Maher
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Maher’s campaign has raised $61,000 and is primarily funded by individual donors.
The District
Counties in district: California’s 21st Congressional District includes parts of Fresno and Tulare Counties.
Voter registration: 44% Democrat, 26% Republican, and 22% No Party Preference. Republicans typically hold this district, although it was briefly held by Democrats in 2018, when TJ Cox won and flipped it for a single term. Since the 2021 redistricting process, CD-21 is 2% less Democratic than it was during the 2020 general election cycle.
District demographics: 53% Latino, 10% Asian, and 6% Black. This district is considered to be one of the 16 strong Latino seats in the California congressional delegation.
Recent election results: CD-21 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 20 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018 by 13 points.
The Position
Congressmembers represent and advocate for the needs of their district constituents at the United States Capitol. They are responsible for creating, debating, and voting on legislation that addresses issues within their district.
The United States is divided into 435 congressional districts, each with a population of about 710,000 individuals. Each district elects a representative to the House of Representatives for a two-year term. California has 53 congressional representatives, the largest delegation in the country. There is no term limit for this position.