Race · November 3, 2026

U.S. House · California's 21st District

2 candidates on the ballot.1

How this race is decided: Under California's top-two system, only the two candidates who received the most votes in the June 2, 2026, primary, regardless of party preference, appear on this general-election ballot.1,2

§1Candidates

Why this matters: Every candidate the state lists for this race on the November ballot, in the state's own order.

Jim Costa
Democratic · Incumbent
Currently represents California's 21st District in the U.S. House.
Kyle Kirkland
Republican · Challenger

§2Side by side

Why this matters: The same facts for every candidate, in the same order. Where we found nothing for a candidate, the cell says so — that means we didn't find it in public sources, not that it doesn't exist.

Scroll sideways on small screens. Select a name for the full page.
Jim CostaKyle Kirkland
Party on the ballotDemocratic1,3Republican1,3
StatusIncumbent4Challenger
Raised$1,685,249 through October 14, 20265$464,700 through October 14, 20266
Cash on hand$500,7675$13,1016

Issues only one candidate has addressed

By candidate, in ballot order. We found nothing public from the other candidates in this race on these issues.

Jim Costa — 19 issues
  • Abortion law
    Legal until about 24 weeks, as under Roe v. Wade, and later to protect the woman's life or health
    His campaign website says women rather than politicians should make their own health care decisions and that Roe v. Wade should be written into federal law.7
  • Abortion medication
    His campaign website says he opposed efforts to restrict access to mifepristone and contraceptives and supported legislation protecting women's right to travel to another state for reproductive care.7
  • Who sets abortion law
    A national law making abortion legal in every state, at least until viability, as under Roe v. Wade
    His campaign website says he cosponsors the Women's Health Protection Act, which would write Roe v. Wade into federal law and guarantee access to reproductive care.7
  • Ethanol and biofuel requirements
    His campaign website lists among his record sponsoring a bill, enacted through the Inflation Reduction Act, that extended tax credits for biodiesel, renewable diesel and alternative fuels, and an older results page still on the site says he fought to end $6 billion in taxpayer subsidies for corn ethanol.8,9
  • Visas for farmworkers
    His campaign website says he championed the Farm Workforce Modernization Act to reform the farm labor system.7
  • Police funding
    Increase police funding, for example to hire more officers
    His campaign website says he supported federal grants for the Fresno Police Department to hire more officers and is co-leading legislation to hire more police in small communities.7,10
  • Trade agreements
    Sign new deals that lower trade barriers
    His campaign website says he worked to negotiate trade deals such as the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement and pressed for a deal with India that removed retaliatory tariffs on crops such as almonds and walnuts, and an older results page still on the site says he supported free trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia and Panama.7,9
  • Wildfire prevention and forest management
    His campaign website says he helped win $3.3 billion to reduce the risk of wildfires.10
  • Child tax credit
    His campaign website lists $299 million in child tax credits for the district, which it says lifted 27,300 children out of poverty, among results of laws he championed.7
  • Food assistance (SNAP)
    His campaign website says he won a 15% increase in food assistance benefits through the American Rescue Plan and is fighting efforts to cut SNAP and other nutrition programs.7
  • Aid to Ukraine
    His official biography says he has voted to provide weapons, military equipment, economic assistance and humanitarian aid to help Ukraine defend itself.11
  • Iran's nuclear program and sanctions
    His official biography says he supports a strong posture toward Iran and helped negotiate the 2010 law that imposed the first significant U.S. sanctions on Iran.11
  • Background checks for gun sales
    His campaign website says he helped enact the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which it says strengthened background checks for gun buyers under 21.7
  • Red flag laws
    His campaign website says the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which he helped enact, is helping put red flag laws in place.7
  • Health insurance system
    His campaign website says he helped enact the Affordable Care Act in 2010 and championed the American Rescue Plan, which it says helped more than 25,000 people in his district newly enroll in coverage and lowered their premiums.7,11
  • Legal status for immigrants here without permission, including Dreamers
    His campaign website says he supports comprehensive, bipartisan immigration reform, has worked to protect Dreamers and create a path to citizenship, and championed the American Dream and Promise Act to give DACA recipients a pathway to legal status.7,10
  • Passenger trains and Amtrak
    Expand funding for passenger rail, including new high-speed lines
    His campaign website says he wrote legislation to invest in high-speed rail and secured $3.3 billion for California's high-speed rail project, and lists federal high-speed rail funding bills he sponsored that became law.7,8
  • Medicare drug price negotiation
    His campaign website lists among his accomplishments capping insulin at $35 a month for seniors, creating a $2,000 limit on out-of-pocket drug costs and allowing Medicare to lower prices for 10 major drugs.7
  • High-speed internet access
    His campaign website lists 88,444 households saving $30 a month on internet bills among results of laws he championed, and an older results page still on the site credits him with $46.6 million to expand broadband access in the Valley.7,12
Kyle Kirkland — 1 issue

Issue statements are drafted by AI from the public sources cited, and only cover what each candidate has said publicly.