Who Is Running in California Congressional District 21st in 2026?
Last updated: March 4, 2026
Jim Costa
(Incumbent)Economy
HighJim Costa supports fiscal responsibility and policies aimed at improving the economy and reducing national debt. As co-chair of the Blue Dog Coalition, he champions fiscal discipline, including pay-as-you-go budgeting. He voted to enact the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, which seeks to cut the deficit by raising $300 billion through corporate minimum taxes. He also voted against the FY26 continuing resolution due to concerns about its impact on affordable healthcare access for his constituents.
Immigration
HighCongressman Jim Costa advocates for comprehensive immigration reform, co-sponsoring legislation like the American Dream and Promise Act to provide permanent legal status for Dreamers. He also backs the Renewing Immigration Provisions of the Immigration Act of 1929 to update the immigration registry, allowing long-settled immigrants to apply for legal status. Costa believes it is essential to modernize immigration laws, bringing stability and fairness to families who have lived in the U.S. for decades.
Healthcare
HighCongressman Jim Costa consistently supports affordable healthcare access, opposing budget cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, and the Affordable Care Act (ACA), arguing these cuts harm vulnerable communities. He worked to pass the ACA in 2010 and has defended it, stating it helps families maintain essential health coverage. Costa also supported legislation like the American Rescue Plan and Inflation Reduction Act to lower prescription costs for seniors and strengthen Medicare and Medicaid programs.
Republican Candidate
No Republican candidate has been confirmed for this race yet. Check back after the primary.
| Issue | Jim Costa |
|---|---|
| Economy | Jim Costa supports fiscal responsibility and policies aimed at improving the economy and reducing national debt. As co-chair of the Blue Dog Coalition, he champions fiscal discipline, including pay-as-you-go budgeting. He voted to enact the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, which seeks to cut the deficit by raising $300 billion through corporate minimum taxes. He also voted against the FY26 continuing resolution due to concerns about its impact on affordable healthcare access for his constituents. High |
| Immigration | Congressman Jim Costa advocates for comprehensive immigration reform, co-sponsoring legislation like the American Dream and Promise Act to provide permanent legal status for Dreamers. He also backs the Renewing Immigration Provisions of the Immigration Act of 1929 to update the immigration registry, allowing long-settled immigrants to apply for legal status. Costa believes it is essential to modernize immigration laws, bringing stability and fairness to families who have lived in the U.S. for decades. High |
| Healthcare | Congressman Jim Costa consistently supports affordable healthcare access, opposing budget cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, and the Affordable Care Act (ACA), arguing these cuts harm vulnerable communities. He worked to pass the ACA in 2010 and has defended it, stating it helps families maintain essential health coverage. Costa also supported legislation like the American Rescue Plan and Inflation Reduction Act to lower prescription costs for seniors and strengthen Medicare and Medicaid programs. High |
| Climate & Energy | Representative Jim Costa holds a 67% pro-environment score in 2025 and a 62% lifetime score from the League of Conservation Voters. He supported the Transformational Climate Investments (Inflation Reduction Act) and introduced the End California Water Crisis Package to expand California's water storage and ease permitting. Costa advocates for federal investments in wildfire prevention and forest management. He criticized 2026 CVP water allocations as unjustified, seeking higher allocations to better support San Joaquin Valley farmers. High |
| Abortion & Reproductive Rights | Jim Costa supports abortion rights and opposed the 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade. He stated that this ruling "strips women of their freedom to make their own decisions and the constitutional right to privacy." He is also an original co-sponsor of the Women's Health Protection Act. High |
| Foreign Policy | Jim Costa, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has shaped U.S. foreign policy regarding trade, human rights, and foreign aid, emphasizing strengthening international relations. He closely monitored U.S. military strikes against Iran and questioned the justification for unilateral military action in Venezuela. Additionally, he highlighted food as a national security issue, criticizing the allocation of foreign food aid to Argentina while domestic needs persist. High |
| Education | Jim Costa supports strengthening education by advocating for equitable funding for Minority-Serving Institutions and opposing rescinded funding from these institutions. He helped pass the College Cost Reduction Act of 2007 to increase Pell Grants and reduce student loan interest rates, and a 2010 law switching to the Direct Loan program. Costa also introduced the bipartisan BUILD Act to authorize up to $1.7 billion annually for regional public universities, emphasizing education's role in economic development. High |
| Gun Policy | Jim Costa voted to pass the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, describing it as historic gun reform aimed at preventing gun violence. He also co-sponsored and voted to pass the Assault Weapons Ban Act (H.R. 1808), which would make it unlawful to import, sell, manufacture, transfer, or possess semiautomatic assault weapons or large-capacity ammunition feeding devices. He supports gun control measures. High |
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