Jim Costa

Democrat Representative of California's 21st district

Representative
California, district 20
January 4, 2005 - January 3, 2007
Representative
California, district 20
January 4, 2007 - January 3, 2009
Representative
California, district 20
January 6, 2009 - January 3, 2011
Representative
California, district 20
January 5, 2011 - January 3, 2013
Representative
California, district 16
January 3, 2013 - January 3, 2015
Representative
California, district 16
January 6, 2015 - January 3, 2017
Representative
California, district 16
January 3, 2017 - January 3, 2019
Representative
California, district 16
January 3, 2019 - January 3, 2021
Representative
California, district 16
January 3, 2021 - January 3, 2023
Representative
California, district 21
January 3, 2023 - January 3, 2025

202-225-3341

@RepJimCosta

costa.house.gov

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Congresses Served

House Terms

April 13, 1952 (72 years old)

Birthday

Serving as the U.S. representative for California’s 21st congressional district since 2023
Previously represented the 20th congressional district from 2005 to 2013 and the 16th congressional district from 2013 to 2023
Served in the California State Assembly from 1978 to 1994 and the California State Senate from 1994 until 2002
Chaired the Blue Dog Coalition in the U.S. House of Representatives
Chaired the Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture during the 117th Congress
Third-generation family farmer with grandparents who emigrated from the Azores
Graduated with a bachelor’s degree in political science from Fresno State in 1974
Worked as an intern and aide in various political offices before his own election
Described as a liberal Catholic who favors abortion rights
Sponsored the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act, which prohibits rent control on certain types of housing
Won his first U.S. House election in 2004 and has been reelected multiple times, facing close races in some instances
Committee assignments include the Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on Foreign Affairs
Member of various caucuses including the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and the New Democrat Coalition
Voted with President Joe Biden’s stated position 100% of the time as of 2022
Supports DC statehood and has voted for legislation related to abortion rights, agriculture, and foreign affairs
Advocated for high-speed rail in California and introduced legislation for national cemetery burials for Hmong- and Laotian-American veterans
Honored as a Commander of the Order of Merit by Portugal in 1996