U.S. House, California 21st Congressional District · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in California's 21st Congressional District?
Jim Costa has the strongest record in California's 21st Congressional District. Jim Costa scores 65 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Kyle Kirkland at 53, as of October 9, 2026. Jim Costa's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Kyle Kirkland's highest marks are roots in the constituency. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Democratic · incumbent
Strongest record
Jim Costa
65 / 100
Public evidence on 13 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 56
- Qualifications
- 80
- Performance
- 56
Republican
Kyle Kirkland
53 / 100
Public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 55
- Performance
- NR
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Jim Costa
- On the record2026-05-04
NOTUS reported May 4, 2026 that the Office of Congressional Ethics reviewed complaints that he made advances toward two interns; his office said the Ethics Committee unanimously voted to dismiss the matter.
Sources: NOTUS, May 4, 2026, The Fresno Bee via The Brunswick News, May 6, 2026, San Joaquin Valley Sun
- On the record2025-01
Voted for the Laken Riley Act in January 2025 and for dozens of other bills in 2025 and 2026 that Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries opposed.
Source: House Clerk Roll Call 6, 2025
- On the record1986
NOTUS reported in May 2026 that the Los Angeles Times reported in 1986 that Costa, then a Fresno assemblyman, apologized for soliciting an act of prostitution from a woman wearing a police transmitter.
Source: NOTUS, May 4, 2026
- Credit2026-02-03
Sponsored H.R. 5259, the Permanent OPTN Fee Authority Act, whose provisions were incorporated into the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026.
- Credit2020-12-21
Received Fresno State's President's Medal of Distinction from university President Joseph Castro on Dec. 21, 2020.
Source: Fresno State News, Dec. 21, 2020
Kyle Kirkland
- Mark against2001-09-28
On Sept. 28, 2001 the SEC, in a settled order, found he and a portfolio manager overvalued notes held by two funds; he paid a $30,000 civil penalty and was barred from the brokerage industry with a right to reapply after three years.
Sources: SEC administrative proceeding, Release 33-8019, Sept. 28, 2001, Bureau of Gambling Control, Statement of Reasons, CGCC-2025-0508-14A (archived copy)
- Unresolved2025-12
In December 2025 the state Bureau of Gambling Control filed Statements of Reasons asking the Gambling Control Commission to deny renewal of his licenses for Club One Casino and The Deuce Lounge, alleging unsuitability.
Where it stands: Pending before the Gambling Control Commission per the latest archived copies (January and June 2026); the pleadings are allegations, not findings, and he can contest them at a hearing. No decision found as of 2026-10-09.
Sources: Bureau of Gambling Control, Statement of Reasons, CGCC-2025-0508-14A (archived copy), Bureau of Gambling Control, Statement of Reasons, CGCC-2025-0508-14B (archived copy)
- On the record2015-10-15
His Club One Casino filed for Chapter 11 in October 2015, listing more than $9 million owed to its top 20 creditors; its attorney tied the filing to a dispute with the previous owner.
- Credit2023-06-21
In June 2023 he made a seven-figure pledge to the Fresno Chaffee Zoo's Centennial Campaign, the largest individual gift in the zoo's history, per the San Joaquin Valley Sun.
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Jim Costa. Annual financial disclosure for 2025 is on file with the House Clerk, filed Aug. 13, 2026; his one periodic transaction report since 2019 was filed 14 days after the trade. No FEC fine or published House Ethics finding found.
Sources: House Clerk financial disclosure, Filing ID 10077120, House Committee on Ethics site search for Costa, FEC administrative fines search
Kyle Kirkland. A House candidate financial disclosure was filed Jan. 12, 2026, and campaign reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: House Clerk candidate financial disclosure, Filing ID 10073145, FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Jim Costa. Voted Yea on more than 40 House measures in 2025 and 2026 that Democratic Leader Jeffries and the Democratic whip team opposed, including the Laken Riley Act in January 2025.
Sources: House Clerk Roll Call 6, 2025, Laken Riley Act, House Clerk Roll Call 12, 2026, Affordable HOMES Act
Kyle Kirkland. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Jim Costa. No public record found.
Kyle Kirkland. Appeared at the Fresno County Candidate Forum in early 2026, per the Fresno State Collegian. No record found of general election debates accepted or declined.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Jim Costa. Has held public office since 1978. No censure, reprimand or published ethics finding; a House Ethics review of complaints about his conduct toward interns was dismissed, per his office and NOTUS (see Record).
Sources: Ballotpedia, Jim Costa, NOTUS, May 4, 2026
Kyle Kirkland. Chaired Steinway Musical Instruments until 2011, owns Club One Casino and chairs the Fresno Chaffee Zoo board. A 2001 SEC settled order against him is over 10 years old and not scored (E1); a 2025 state gambling license case is pending.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Kyle Kirkland, Fort Wayne Business Weekly, July 7, 2011
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Jim Costa. Has held sworn state and federal office since 1978. Voted Nay on both January 2021 objections to the Arizona and Pennsylvania electors; no misuse-of-office finding found.
Sources: House Clerk Roll Call 10, Jan. 6, 2021, Arizona objection, House Clerk Roll Call 11, Jan. 7, 2021, Pennsylvania objection
Kyle Kirkland. No public record found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Jim Costa. In the U.S. House since 2005, after 16 years in the California Assembly and eight in the State Senate.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Jim Costa, GovTrack, member page
Kyle Kirkland. Business career: founded an investment banking firm in 1994, chaired Steinway Musical Instruments, owns Club One Casino and was president of the California Gaming Association. Has not held public office.
Source: Ballotpedia, Kyle Kirkland
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Jim Costa. Ranking member of the Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry; also on Foreign Affairs. Publishes issue pages.
Sources: GovTrack, committee membership, Office site, home page
Kyle Kirkland. Lists priorities on housing, food, gas and health care costs, government waste and water, in general terms.
Source: Campaign site, home page
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Jim Costa. Offers an email newsletter and publishes issue pages. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: Office site, home page, Ballotpedia, Jim Costa
Kyle Kirkland. Completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024 and publishes campaign priorities; has not completed the 2026 survey.
Source: Ballotpedia, Kyle Kirkland
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Jim Costa. Born in Fresno and a graduate of Fresno County schools; represented Fresno in the Legislature for 24 years. FEC by-state totals for 2025 to 2026 show about 80 percent of itemized individual contributions from California.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Jim Costa, Office site, Full Biography, FEC contribution totals by state
Kyle Kirkland. Fresno businessman who says he has lived in the Central Valley about 15 years; chairs the Fresno Chaffee Zoo board. FEC by-state totals show about 81 percent of itemized individual contributions from California.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Kyle Kirkland, FEC contribution totals by state
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Jim Costa. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine record found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Kyle Kirkland. Chaired Steinway Musical Instruments from about 1995 to 2011, and owns Club One Casino in Fresno. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC; no FEC fine found.
Sources: Fort Wayne Business Weekly, July 7, 2011, Ballotpedia, Kyle Kirkland, FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Jim Costa. Legislative Effectiveness Score of 0.156 in the 118th Congress against a benchmark of 0.560, below expectations. Raised to 2 under E14: his Permanent OPTN Fee Authority Act was incorporated into the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026.
Sources: Center for Effective Lawmaking House dataset, 93rd to 118th Congress, GovTrack, H.R. 5259 (119th Congress)
Kyle Kirkland. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Jim Costa. Missed 749 of 13,951 roll call votes, 5.4 percent, from January 2005 to September 2026.
Source: GovTrack, missed votes
Kyle Kirkland. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Jim Costa. Lists district offices in Fresno and Visalia and offers help with federal agencies. No published casework totals found.
Source: Office site, home page
Kyle Kirkland. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Jim Costa. Lugar Center Bipartisan Index score of 0.76116 in the latest posted House scores (118th Congress, 2023), ranked 44 of 436, in the top quarter.
Source: Lugar Center and McCourt School Bipartisan Index, House Scores
Kyle Kirkland. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Jim Costa. No public record found.
Kyle Kirkland. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 9, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in California's 21st Congressional District?
Jim Costa has the strongest record in California's 21st Congressional District. Jim Costa scores 65 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Kyle Kirkland at 53, as of October 9, 2026. Jim Costa's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Kyle Kirkland's highest marks are roots in the constituency. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in California's 21st Congressional District in 2026?
Jim Costa (Democratic, incumbent), Kyle Kirkland (Republican). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Jim Costa a good candidate for Congress?
Jim Costa scores 65 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 13 of 15 criteria: character 56 of 100, qualifications 80 of 100, performance 56 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Kyle Kirkland a good candidate for Congress?
Kyle Kirkland scores 53 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 55 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every California race scored, the trailing candidate's path to victory, and the California 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.