Jim Costa

Jim Costa
Born	James Manuel Costa 13 4, 1952
Birthplace	Fresno, California, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician
Known for	U.S. Representative for California; Chair of the Blue Dog Coalition
Education	California State University, Fresno (BA)
Website	[https://costa.house.gov/ Official site]

James Manuel Costa (born April 13, 1952) is an American politician who has served as the U.S. Representative for California's 21st congressional district since 2023. A member of the Democratic Party, Costa has represented various California congressional districts continuously since 2005, and his current district encompasses most of Fresno and surrounding communities in the San Joaquin Valley. Before entering federal office, he built a lengthy career in the California State Legislature, serving in the California State Assembly from 1978 to 1994 and the California State Senate from 1994 to 2002. A third-generation family farmer from the Central Valley, Costa has dedicated much of his legislative career to issues of agriculture, water infrastructure, and rural development. He chaired the Blue Dog Coalition in the U.S. House of Representatives during the 116th Congress and served as chair of the Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture during the 117th Congress.

Early Life

James Manuel Costa was born on April 13, 1952, in Fresno, California. He grew up in the San Joaquin Valley, a region of California known for its extensive agricultural output. Costa is of Portuguese descent, and his family has deep roots in the Central Valley's farming community. He is a third-generation farmer, a background that has significantly shaped his legislative priorities throughout his career.

Growing up in one of the most productive agricultural regions in the United States, Costa was exposed from an early age to the economic and environmental challenges facing rural communities in California, including water allocation disputes, agricultural labor issues, and the tension between urban development and farmland preservation. These experiences would later inform his work as a legislator at both the state and federal levels.

Education

Costa attended California State University, Fresno, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. His education at the local public university underscored his ties to the Fresno community, and he remained in the region following his graduation, eventually entering public service.

Career

California State Assembly (1978–1994)

Costa began his political career in 1978 when he was elected to the California State Assembly, representing the 30th district. He succeeded Kenneth L. Maddy in the seat. Costa served in the Assembly for sixteen years, from December 4, 1978, to November 30, 1994. During this period, he established himself as a legislator focused on agricultural and water issues central to the San Joaquin Valley's economy.

During his tenure in the Assembly, Costa rose through the ranks of the Democratic caucus and served as the Majority Caucus Chair, a leadership position that gave him a prominent role in shaping the caucus's legislative agenda and political strategy. His long service in the Assembly allowed him to build relationships across party lines and develop expertise in state budgetary matters, water policy, and agricultural regulation. He was succeeded in the Assembly by Brian Setencich.

California State Senate (1994–2002)

In 1994, Costa was elected to the California State Senate, representing the 16th district. He succeeded Phil Wyman in the seat and served from December 5, 1994, to November 30, 2002. His move to the upper chamber of the California Legislature allowed him to continue his work on agricultural and water policy from a position of broader statewide influence.

Costa's tenure in the State Senate coincided with a period of significant policy debates in California regarding water rights, environmental regulation, and the state's growing population pressures on agricultural land. He was term-limited out of the State Senate in 2002 and was succeeded by Dean Florez. After leaving the State Senate, Costa pursued election to the U.S. House of Representatives.

U.S. House of Representatives

Election to Congress (2004)

In 2004, Costa ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in California's 20th congressional district, seeking to succeed retiring Democratic Representative Cal Dooley. Costa won the election and took office on January 3, 2005, beginning his service in the 109th Congress.

Representing the 20th District (2005–2013)

Costa represented California's 20th congressional district from January 3, 2005, through 2013. The district encompassed a large portion of the San Joaquin Valley, including parts of Fresno and surrounding agricultural communities. As a representative of one of the nation's most productive farming regions, Costa quickly established himself as a voice for agricultural interests in Congress.

During this period, Costa focused on legislation related to water infrastructure, agricultural subsidies, farm labor, and rural economic development. The San Joaquin Valley faced persistent challenges including high unemployment, poverty, air quality concerns, and disputes over water allocations between agricultural users and environmental conservation efforts. Costa sought to balance these competing interests while advocating for increased federal investment in the region's infrastructure.

Redistricting and the 16th District (2013–2023)

Following the 2010 census and subsequent redistricting in California—conducted for the first time by the California Citizens Redistricting Commission—Costa's district was renumbered as California's 16th congressional district. The new district retained much of the same territory in the San Joaquin Valley.

In the 2012 general election, Costa won reelection in the newly drawn 16th district. He continued to represent the 16th district through the 2010s, winning successive reelection campaigns.

Blue Dog Coalition Leadership

Costa has been a prominent member of the Blue Dog Coalition, a caucus of moderate and fiscally conservative Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives. His involvement in the coalition reflects his positioning as a centrist Democrat, representing a district with significant conservative-leaning constituencies, particularly in the agricultural sector.

Costa held several leadership positions within the Blue Dog Coalition over the years. He served as Chair of the Blue Dog Coalition for Communications from January 3, 2015, to January 3, 2017, succeeding Kurt Schrader and being succeeded by Henry Cuellar. He then served as Chair of the Blue Dog Coalition for Administration from January 3, 2017, to January 3, 2019, again succeeding Schrader and being succeeded by Stephanie Murphy. During the 116th Congress (2019–2021), Costa chaired the full Blue Dog Coalition. Most recently, he served as Chair of the Blue Dog Coalition for Policy from January 3, 2023, to May 24, 2023, succeeding Tom O'Halleran and being succeeded by Mary Peltola.

Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture

During the 117th Congress (2021–2023), Costa served as chair of the Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture, a subcommittee of the House Committee on Agriculture. In this role, he oversaw legislative matters related to the livestock industry, foreign agricultural trade, and food safety.

The 21st District (2023–present)

Following the 2020 census redistricting cycle, Costa's district was again renumbered, this time as California's 21st congressional district. He has represented the 21st district since January 3, 2023. The district continues to include most of Fresno and surrounding areas in the San Joaquin Valley.

Legislative Priorities

Throughout his congressional career, Costa has focused on several key policy areas reflective of his district's needs and his background in farming.

Water Infrastructure: Water policy has been one of Costa's signature issues. The San Joaquin Valley faces chronic water supply challenges, and Costa has consistently advocated for expanded water storage, improved delivery systems, and policies to address California's recurring droughts. In December 2025, Costa and Representative Adam Gray introduced the End California Water Crisis Package, a legislative initiative aimed at expanding water storage capacity and addressing the state's ongoing water infrastructure needs. In November 2025, he introduced bipartisan legislation to modernize water systems and fund local water infrastructure projects, working with Representatives Kim Schrier, Dan Newhouse, and John Garamendi.

Rural Development: In February 2026, Costa introduced H.R. 7609, the Rural Development Modernization Act, legislation aimed at updating and improving rural development programs.

Agriculture and Soil Conservation: In February 2026, Costa and Representative Brad Finstad announced the launch of the bipartisan Congressional Soils Caucus, an effort to promote soil health policy and raise awareness of soil conservation issues in Congress.

Federal Funding for the San Joaquin Valley: Costa has worked to secure federal appropriations for his district. In February 2026, he announced the passage of $11.2 million in federal funding for San Joaquin Valley communities through the Fiscal Year 2026 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill. He also announced $2 million in federal funding for improvements to the San Joaquin River, working with Fresno Council President Mike Karbassi.

Public Safety and Biosecurity: Costa has advocated for legislation addressing the threat of illegal biological laboratories. In early 2026, he joined a bipartisan group of legislators including Representatives Kevin Kiley, David Valadao, Vince Fong, and Susie Lee in calling on Congress to advance the Illegal Biolab Safety Act. He also issued a statement regarding federal and local law enforcement actions against illegal biological laboratories.

Veterans Affairs: In 2018, Costa was involved in the passage of legislation allowing national cemetery burials for veterans of the Secret War in Laos, recognizing the contributions of Hmong and Laotian veterans who fought alongside American forces during the Vietnam War. This was significant for Costa's district, which is home to a large Hmong American community in the Fresno area.

Personal Life

Costa is a third-generation farmer from the San Joaquin Valley with roots in the Portuguese American community of the Central Valley. He has maintained his connection to the agricultural community throughout his political career.

Costa has been recognized by the government of Portugal and was awarded the rank of Commander of the Order of Merit (ComM) by the President of Portugal. This honor reflects his heritage and ties to the Portuguese diaspora community in California.

Recognition

Costa's Portuguese heritage has been recognized through his receipt of the Commander rank of the Order of Merit, awarded by the President of Portugal.

Within Congress, Costa's leadership roles have included chairing the Blue Dog Coalition and the Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture, positions that reflect his standing among moderate Democrats and his expertise in agricultural policy. His founding of the Congressional Soils Caucus in 2026 further established his role as a leading congressional voice on agricultural and environmental conservation issues.

Legacy

Jim Costa's career in public office spans more than four decades, beginning with his election to the California State Assembly in 1978. His continuous service in the state legislature and the U.S. House of Representatives makes him one of the longest-serving elected officials from the San Joaquin Valley. Throughout this time, he has been a consistent advocate for the agricultural interests and rural communities of California's Central Valley.

Costa's legislative work on water infrastructure has been a defining element of his career. California's complex and often contentious water politics have been a persistent challenge for Central Valley legislators, and Costa has repeatedly introduced and supported legislation aimed at expanding water storage, modernizing delivery systems, and balancing the needs of agricultural users with environmental considerations.

As a member of the Blue Dog Coalition and a centrist Democrat representing a politically competitive district, Costa has navigated the ideological tensions within the Democratic Party while maintaining electoral viability in a region where agricultural interests often align with conservative policy positions. His leadership of the Blue Dog Coalition during the 116th Congress underscored his role as a bridge figure within the Democratic caucus.

His Portuguese heritage and connections to the immigrant farming communities of the Central Valley have also been a notable aspect of his public identity, reflected in his recognition by the Portuguese government and his advocacy for the diverse communities of the San Joaquin Valley, including the region's significant Hmong American population.