11th term · 21.7 years in office: 10 full terms completed, 1 in progress.
Representative · CA-21 · Democrat · since Jan 2005
Jim Costa
Before the votes, a life.
James Manuel Costa was born in 1952 in Fresno, California, and grew up working on his family's dairy farm.Source 2: Official website of Jim CostaSource 3: Wikipedia: Jim Costa He graduated from California State University, Fresno, with a bachelor's degree in political science in 1974.Source 3: Wikipedia: Jim Costa Before running for elected office, Costa worked as a congressional aide and as a chief of staff in the California State Assembly.Source 3: Wikipedia: Jim Costa
Costa was elected to the California State Assembly in 1978 and later served in the California State Senate from 1994 to 2002.Source 3: Wikipedia: Jim Costa He was first elected to the United States House of Representatives in 2004 and currently represents California's 21st Congressional District.Source 1: Jim Costa — Biographical Directory of the United States CongressSource 2: Official website of Jim CostaSource 3: Wikipedia: Jim Costa
“Last year, I was proud to secure $1 million for the Orange Cove City Police Department to help relocate their current department into a new facility that will strengthen public safety for the community that they serve.”
The path here
1974
Graduated from California State University, Fresno, with a bachelor's degree in political science.Source 3: Wikipedia: Jim Costa
1978-1994
Served in the California State Assembly.Source 3: Wikipedia: Jim Costa
1994-2002
Served in the California State Senate.Source 3: Wikipedia: Jim Costa
2005-2023
Represented California's 20th and 16th Congressional Districts in the United States House of Representatives.Source 3: Wikipedia: Jim Costa
2023-Present
Serving as the U.S. Representative for California's 21st Congressional District.Source 1: Jim Costa — Biographical Directory of the United States CongressSource 3: Wikipedia: Jim Costa
3 sources
- Jim Costa — Biographical Directory of the United States Congressopen source
- Official website of Jim Costaopen source
- Wikipedia: Jim Costaopen source archived copy
Full record card
Before Congress
- 1974 Graduated from California State University, Fresno, with a bachelor's degree in political science.
- 1978-1994 Served in the California State Assembly.
- 1994-2002 Served in the California State Senate.
- 2005-2023 Represented California's 20th and 16th Congressional Districts in the United States House of Representatives.
- 2023-Present Serving as the U.S. Representative for California's 21st Congressional District.
Stated position vs. voting record.
The dashed shape is what they campaigned on. The solid shape is how they voted. Where the shapes separate, the record differs from the platform. The distance is measured. What it means is up to you.
- Economy & taxes: not yet stated; voted 45 of 100 toward FISCAL RESTRAINT.
- Safety & enforcement: not yet stated; voted 51 of 100 toward STRICTER ENFORCEMENT.
- Immigration: not yet stated; voted 42 of 100 toward TIGHTER LIMITS.
- Rights & liberty: not yet stated; voted 52 of 100 toward INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY.
- Environment & energy: not yet stated; voted 50 of 100 toward CONSERVE & PROTECT.
- Governance & oversight: not yet stated; voted 57 of 100 toward DISCLOSURE & AUDIT.
The stats, cluster by cluster
6 clusters · 72 issues · sorted by gap size
Each rail runs between two positions real bills take. ○ marks what they campaigned on; ▪ marks how they voted. Select a cluster to open its issues.
How they voted.
- Voted YeaRemoving Barriers to Work for Disabled Americans Act
- Voted YeaDirecting the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran.
- Voted NayNational Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027
- Voted NayEstablishing the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2027 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2028 through 2036.
- Voted NayStop Insider Trading Act
- Voted NayProviding for consideration of the bill (H.R. 8800) to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 8884) to amend title II of the Social Security Act to reauthorize demonstration authority for the disability insurance program; providing for consideration of the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 113) establishing the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2027 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2028 through 2036; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 7008) to amend chapter 131 of title 5 to require certain restrictions on stocks for Members of Congress and their spouses and dependents, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 6955) to make improvements to the Federal banking laws, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 9770) making continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2027, and for other purposes; and for other purposes.
Who's behind them.
How complete is this money picture?
46of the money categories we track are publicly disclosed for this member, counting those that lawfully lag.
- Campaign finance
- Corporate-PAC share
- Disclosed trades
- Lobbyist meetings
Who funds them · 2026 cycle · FEC through Jun 30, 2026
$1.3M
- PAC contributions
- Itemized individual
- Small-dollar (≤$200)
- All other