Jim Costa
U.S. Representative, CA-21 since 2005. Ran in 21 elections between 1978 and 2024, winning 21. Re-elected in 2026. Next on the ballot in 2028.
U.S. Representative, CA-21Born 1952Advocate
- In office
- 21 yrs
- Since 2005
- Bills became law
- 0
- 30 sponsored, 119th Congress
- Votes missed
- 4.0%
- Chamber median 2.1%
- With party
- 86%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- +25.3
- Won 2026
- Next election
- 2028
- Nov 7, 2028
Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Nov 7, 2026, 3:00 PM ET
Committees
119th Congress.
- House Committee on AgricultureForestry and HorticultureLivestock, Dairy, and Poultry · Ranking Member
- House Committee on Foreign AffairsEurope
Source: congress-legislators committeesUpdated Nov 7, 2026, 3:00 PM ET
Legislation
No bills in this list for the 119th Congress.
Source: Congress.gov billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 3:27 PM ET
Voting record
Where Costa sits in the U.S. House
Costa is closer to the center than 96% of the chamber's Democrats.
Closest: Tom Suozzi, Josh Gottheimer, Laura Gillen
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 5:06 PM ET
With Costa’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Democrats86%
- Cosponsorships of the other party's bills33%
Black tick: the average of Democrats in the U.S. House.
Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships
Key votes
Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: Costa’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Democrats.
| Date | Bill | Costa | Dem. majority | Rep. majority | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 16, 2026 | HR 5334: Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 | Yes | No | Yes | Passed 262–159 |
| Jun 30, 2026 | HCONRES 108: Directing the President pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution to… | Yes | Yes | No | Failed 189–235 |
| Jun 9, 2026 | S 2: Secure America Act | No | No | Yes | Passed 214–212 |
| May 13, 2026 | HR 1346: To amend the Clean Air Act with respect to the ethanol waiver for Reid Vapor Pressure… | No | No | Yes | Passed 218–203 |
| Feb 12, 2026 | HR 2189: To modernize Federal firearms laws to account for advancements in technology and… | No | No | Yes | Passed 233–185 |
Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls
Career
Offices held, and every time Costa was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.
Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Elections
Margin against the seat’s presidential baseline: how the seat voted for president in the same or nearest year.
| Year | Race | Result | Margin | Seat | +/− |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | U.S. House, CA-21 | Won | D+25.3 | D+6.2 | +19.1 |
| 2024 | U.S. House, CA-21 | Won | D+5.2 | — | — |
| 2022 | U.S. House, CA-21 | Won | D+8.2 | — | — |
| 2020 | U.S. House, CA-16 | Won | D+18.8 | — | — |
| 2018 | U.S. House, CA-16 | Won | D+15.1 | — | — |
| 2016 | U.S. House, CA-16 | Won | D+16.1 | — | — |
| 2014 | U.S. House, CA-16 | Won | D+1.5 | — | — |
| 2012 | U.S. House, CA-16 | Won | D+14.8 | — | — |
| 2010 | U.S. House, CA-20 | Won | D+3.4 | — | — |
| 2008 | U.S. House, CA-20 | Won | D+48.7 | — | — |
| 2006 | U.S. House, CA-20 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2004 | U.S. House, CA-20 | Won | D+6.8 | — | — |
| 1998 | California State Senate, District 16 | Won | D+43.8 | — | — |
| 1994 | California State Senate, District 16 | Won | D+3.1 | — | — |
| 1992 | California State Assembly, District 30 | Won | D+30.4 | — | — |
| 1990 | California State Assembly, District 30 | Won | D+24.7 | — | — |
| 1988 | California State Assembly, District 30 | Won | D+43.3 | — | — |
| 1986 | California State Assembly, District 30 | Won | D+34.6 | — | — |
| 1984 | California State Assembly, District 30 | Won | D+39.8 | — | — |
| 1982 | California State Assembly, District 30 | Won | — | — | — |
| 1980 | California State Assembly, District 30 | Won | D+35.3 | — | — |
| 1978 | California State Assembly, District 30 | Won | D+27.6 | — | — |
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: California Secretary of State (unofficial)Updated Nov 8, 2026, 7:01 PM ET
Campaign money, 2025–26
- Raised
- $1.7M
- Spent
- $1.4M
- Cash
- $500.8K
Source: FEC filings through Oct 14, 2026Updated Nov 3, 2026, 2:14 AM ET
Campaign committees
Open committees can still raise and spend money.
| JIM COSTA FOR CONGRESS FEC | Active |
Source: FEC filings through Oct 14, 2026Updated Nov 3, 2026, 2:14 AM ET
Seats Costa has held
- U.S. House, CA-21 · 2023–2027
- U.S. House, CA-16 · 2013–2023
- U.S. House, CA-20 · 2005–2013
- California State Senate, District 16 · 1994–2002
- California State Assembly, District 30 · 1978–1994
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Costa has run against
- Kyle Kirkland (R) · 2026 election, won
- Michael Maher (R) · 2024 election, won
- Kevin Cookingham (R) · 2020 election, won
- Elizabeth Heng (R) · 2018 election, won
- Johnny M. Tacherra (R) · 2016 election, won
- Brian Daniel Whelan (R) · 2012 election, won
- Andy Vidak (R) · 2010 election, won
- Jim Lopez (R) · 2008 election, won
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: California Secretary of State (unofficial)
In the polls
Included in 6 polls; Costa’s best result was 51% (California's 16th District, 2018).
Costa’s polls in the database →How we know Costa
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Bioguide C001059
- FEC H4CA20082
- Wikidata Q675869
- Ballotpedia Jim Costa
- Vote Smart 3577
- GovTrack 400618
- OpenSecrets N00026341
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Nov 7, 2026, 3:00 PM ET