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United States Representative, District 21

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Federal

United States Representative, District 21

This person holds your district's seat in the U.S. House of Representatives (2-year term).

Representative Jim Costa led the June 2 primary with 42.2%. Republican Kyle Kirkland took 26.3%. The district covers Fresno and part of the central San Joaquin Valley.

The winner holds one of 435 seats in the U.S. House for a two-year term. A member introduces bills, sits on committees that shape federal legislation, votes on the federal budget and on war powers, and handles casework between constituents and federal agencies. Seniority governs committee standing, so a long-serving member carries influence a newcomer cannot.

The incumbent has served since 2005 and took only 42.2% in his own primary, short of a majority — a modest showing for two decades of tenure. His funding is majority-committee. Weigh long seniority against that softness and against a challenger largely funding himself.

Jim Costa

Jim Costa grew up on his family's dairy farm near Fresno. He later worked as an aide in Sacramento and in Washington. He served in the state Assembly and then the state Senate, for 24 years total. He won his seat in Congress in 2004. He is a senior member of the House Agriculture Committee. He has worked on farm and water bills for the San Joaquin Valley. He also serves on the Foreign Affairs Committee.

This year he spoke out after the White House barred some news outlets from press access. He said freedom of the press is a basic right that must be protected. He has served in Congress for two decades. That long record is itself part of what voters are weighing this year.

He promises to keep strengthening farming and the local economy. He wants to expand access to health care and lower housing costs. He wants to fix the immigration system and repair roads and other infrastructure. He also lists veterans and national security among his priorities.

Kyle Kirkland

Kyle Kirkland is the Republican candidate for this seat, listed on the ballot as entrepreneur/Nonprofit CEO. He has not served in elected office.

No campaign website, interview or news coverage of his reasons for running could be located, and no vote, lawsuit or other public incident is on record.

With no published platform to draw on, his promises cannot be listed here in his own words. That is a gap in what is public, not a comment on his candidacy.

Record in office

Kyle Kirkland has not served in the California Legislature or U.S. Congress; these records cover only those offices. Jim Costa (Democratic) has served in the U.S. House since 2005 and has sponsored 29 bills in the 119th Congress; 2 of their career bills have become law. Per Congress.gov and the public-domain congress-legislators roster, retrieved 2026-09-21.

Financial info

Kyle Kirkland

$338,971raised
  • Individuals$211,51162%
  • Self-funding$127,45938%

Jim Costa

$1,338,630raised
  • Individuals$527,72240%
  • PACs & committees$796,71760%

Total raised is all receipts for the 2026 cycle; the breakdown lists direct contributions, so the pieces can sum below the total. Figures are FEC filings through June 30, 2026, per the FEC bulk campaign-finance summaries, retrieved 2026-09-21.

Your pick

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