Jim Costa

In the 2024 House race for CA-21, Jim Costa (D) defeated Michael Maher (R) 52.6% to 47.4%. Jim Costa received 102,798 votes compared to 92,733 for Michael Maher, a 5.1-point margin that indicates a genuinely contested race.

As the incumbent, Jim Costa benefited from name recognition, established constituent services, and the roughly 2-3 point advantage that sitting members typically enjoy. The 2024 presidential election drove higher voter turnout, which can help or hurt down-ballot candidates depending on the top of the ticket. This seat will likely stay on party watch lists as potentially competitive in future cycles.

In the 2022 House race for CA-21, Jim Costa (D) defeated Michael Maher (R) 54.2% to 45.8%. Jim Costa received 68,074 votes compared to 57,573 for Michael Maher, a 8.4-point margin that indicates a genuinely contested race.

This race flipped the seat from Republican to Democrat. David G. Valadao (R) held the seat previously but either retired or lost in a primary. Party flips at the seat level are relatively rare and often signal shifting district dynamics. As a Democrat, Jim Costa won despite the historical midterm penalty against the president's party (Democrat Biden was in office). This seat will likely stay on party watch lists as potentially competitive in future cycles.

In the 2018 House race for CA-16, Jim Costa (D) defeated Elizabeth Heng (R) 57.5% to 42.5%. Jim Costa received 164,532 votes compared to 121,386 for Elizabeth Heng, a comfortable 15.1-point margin indicating a moderately safe district.

As the incumbent, Jim Costa benefited from name recognition, established constituent services, and the roughly 2-3 point advantage that sitting members typically enjoy. As a Democrat, Jim Costa benefited from the historical midterm penalty against the president's party — with a Republican in the White House, the opposition typically gains seats.

In the 2016 House race for CA-16, Jim Costa (D) defeated Johnny M. Tacherra (R) 58.0% to 42.0%. Jim Costa received 97,473 votes compared to 70,483 for Johnny M. Tacherra, a comfortable 16.1-point margin indicating a moderately safe district.

As the incumbent, Jim Costa benefited from name recognition, established constituent services, and the roughly 2-3 point advantage that sitting members typically enjoy. The 2016 presidential election drove higher voter turnout, which can help or hurt down-ballot candidates depending on the top of the ticket.

In the 2014 House race for CA-16, Jim Costa (D) defeated Johnny Tacherra (R) 50.7% to 49.3%. Jim Costa received 46,277 votes compared to 44,943 for Johnny Tacherra, a razor-thin margin of just 1.5 points — among the closest races in the country.

As the incumbent, Jim Costa benefited from name recognition, established constituent services, and the roughly 2-3 point advantage that sitting members typically enjoy. As a Democrat, Jim Costa won despite the historical midterm penalty against the president's party (Democrat Obama was in office).

In the 2012 House race for CA-16, Jim Costa (D) defeated Brian Daniel Whelan (R) 57.4% to 42.6%. Jim Costa received 84,649 votes compared to 62,801 for Brian Daniel Whelan, a comfortable 14.8-point margin indicating a moderately safe district.

This was an open-seat race. Open seats typically attract stronger candidates and heavier spending from both parties. The 2012 presidential election drove higher voter turnout, which can help or hurt down-ballot candidates depending on the top of the ticket.