Jim Costa
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Jim Costa | |
 |
|
|
|
|
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2005 |
|
| Preceded by | Cal Dooley |
|---|---|
| Succeeded by | Incumbent |
|
|
|
| Born | April 13, 1952 (age 54) Fresno, California |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | single |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
James Manuel "Jim" Costa (born April 13, 1952) is a Democratic politician from the U.S. state of California. He was elected to the United States House of Representatives in November 2004 to represent the 20th Congressional District of California. (map) The district takes in large and predominantly Latino portions of Fresno and Bakersfield in the San Joaquin Valley.
Born in Fresno, Costa is a third-generation family farmer. His grandparents emigrated from Portugal's Azores Islands in the early 20th century. He graduated from Fresno State in 1974. He was a state legislator for 24 years, serving in the California State Assembly from 1978 until 1991, and in the California State Senate from 1994 until 2002.
In the U.S. House election on November 2, 2004, Costa defeated Republican Party state senator Roy Ashburn. The Republicans pumped a considerable amount of money into the district, even though it was 63% Latino and gave Al Gore his highest vote total outside the state's two large conurbations, Sacramento and the San Francisco Bay Area in the north and Los Angeles and San Diego to the south. The campaign was fairly negative with plays on Congressman Costa's name, "Costa's going to cost ya" and linking him with former Governor Gray Davis calling them, "two taxing twins" However, in the end, Costa won, taking 54% of the vote to Ashburn's 46%. The election actually wasn't even that close; Ashburn was only able to hold the margin to single digits by winning heavily Republican Kings County by a large margin.
Costa ran unopposed for reelection in 2006.
[edit] External links
- U.S. Representative Jim Costa official House site
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Federal Election Commission - Mr. Jim Costa campaign finance reports and data
- On the Issues - Jim Costa issue positions and quotes
- OpenSecrets.org - Jim Costa campaign contributions
- Project Vote Smart - Representative Jim Costa (CA) profile
- SourceWatch Congresspedia - Jim Costa profile
- Washington Post - Congress Votes Database: Jim Costa voting record
- Jim Costa for U.S. Congress official campaign site
| Preceded by Cal Dooley |
U.S. Representative from California's 20th Congressional District 2003 – present |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
| Preceded by Phil Wyman |
California State Senator, 16th District 1994 – 2002 |
Succeeded by Dean Florez |
| Preceded by Ken Maddy |
California State Assemblyman, 30th District 1978 – 1994 |
Succeeded by Brian Setencich |
