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CIVIC HERALD

U.S. House · CA-21

This matchup isn't final yet — primaries are still underway in this state.

An incumbent has a record; a challenger has statements. We show each what it is.

Incumbent · Has a record

Jim Costa

Representative · CA · Democrat

Stray indexpending review

Says vs. does — per issue

Sentencing & corrections
1 voteanalysis
says
does+72
Market protections
2 votesanalysis
says
does0
Spending vs. restraint
analysis
says−60
does
Public works
4 votesanalysis
says+80
does+11
gap +69
Levels of legal immigration
1 voteanalysis
says
does+35
LGBTQ+ policy
2 votesanalysis
says
does0
Federal lands & resources
2 votesanalysis
says
does−52
Energy sources
analysis
says+50
does
Security vs. privacy
1 voteanalysis
says
does+15
Mandates vs. liberty
2 votesanalysis
says
does0
Transport priorities
analysis
says+70
does
Banking/financial rules
analysis
says+60
does
Drugs & enforcement
2 votesanalysis
says
does0
Land use & zoning
2 votesanalysis
says
does−68
Greenhouse-gas policy
2 votesanalysis
says
does0
Use of force
1 voteanalysis
says
does+55
Policing & funding
1 voteanalysis
says
does+55
SNAP & nutrition
2 votesanalysis
says+80
does0
gap +80
Substance use & mental health
3 votesanalysis
says
does+52
Welfare & anti-poverty
analysis
says+70
does
Firearms
1 voteanalysis
says
does−22
Corporate concentration
2 votesanalysis
says
does0
Veterans' care delivery
analysis
says+60
does
Pollution & development
2 votesanalysis
says
does−5
Government role in coverage
analysis
says+70
does
Animal protection
2 votesanalysis
says+70
does0
gap +70
Business taxation
analysis
says+60
does
Religious exemptions
2 votesanalysis
says
does0
Federal vs. state/local
1 voteanalysis
says
does−45
Enforcement & security
2 votesanalysis
says−40
does+58
gap +98
Pharmaceutical pricing
analysis
says+80
does
Farm policy & subsidies
2 votesanalysis
says+80
does0
gap +80
Renters & rent
2 votesanalysis
says
does+30
Role of government
2 votesanalysis
says
does+9
Trade & tariffs
2 votesanalysis
says+70
does0
gap +70
Aid & alliances
analysis
says+80
does
Refugee & asylum policy
1 voteanalysis
says
does+55
Status for undocumented
analysis
says+80
does
Regulation (cross-sector)
3 votesanalysis
says
does+11

Money — FEC

$1.3Mraised · 2026

Challenger · No voting record

Kyle Kirkland

Republican · First federal run

Stated positions

  • Spending vs. restraint · Stated

    Kirkland emphasizes stopping government waste and fraud, demanding audits, and delivering value for taxpayers.

    Our analysis of their platformProvisional · review pending
  • Pollution & development · Stated

    Kirkland calls for ending the regulatory chokehold on water and agriculture to support growers and farmworkers.

    Our analysis of their platformProvisional · review pending
  • Welfare & anti-poverty · Stated

    Kirkland explicitly states that he believes in 'hard work over handouts.'

    Our analysis of their platformProvisional · review pending
  • Regulation (cross-sector) · Stated

    Kirkland campaigns heavily on ending over-regulation and government red tape, which he blames for high costs of living.

    Our analysis of their platformProvisional · review pending
  • Enforcement & security · Stated

    Kirkland advocates for strong border security and giving law enforcement tools to stop cartel violence, fentanyl, and human trafficking.

    Our analysis of their platformProvisional · review pending
  • Curriculum & control · Stated

    Kirkland supports empowering parents in education.

    Our analysis of their platformProvisional · review pending

Stated — no voting record to compare

Money — FEC

$339Kraised · 2026

Challenger · No voting record

Lorenzo Rios

Republican · First federal run

Stated positions

  • Pollution & development · Stated

    The candidate supports cutting red tape to expand water storage and infrastructure to support agriculture and jobs.

    Our analysis of their platformProvisional · review pending
  • Enforcement & security · Stated

    The candidate supports securing the border and enforcing immigration laws, while emphasizing the need for a humane and orderly system.

    Our analysis of their platformProvisional · review pending
  • Curriculum & control · Stated

    The candidate asserts that parents deserve a voice in their children's education.

    Our analysis of their platformProvisional · review pending

Stated — no voting record to compare

Money — FEC

$430.4Kraised · 2026

Coverage, disclosed: the incumbent has 39 reviewed record positions to compare against; this challenger publishes 6 stated positions. We show the gap — we don’t invent density.

Provisionalunreviewed: stated positions
refreshed less than a minute ago