← Priority IndexCA-21 · MODEL v1.14 · 5 INPUTS MEASURED
Jim Costa
CA-21 scores 59.3 on the expanded model: AIPAC-supported blue structure, incumbent alignment, and reported cash-on-hand evidence. V0.10 refreshes incumbent finance from the FEC candidate summary through 2026-06-30, leaving the score unchanged.
Priority score59.3#1,984 of 5,726Tie of 4
THE MEMBER
Record
Jim Costa (born 1952) has served in the U.S. House since 2005-01-04. The retained record shows 21.6 cumulative years of House service, 21.6 in the current uninterrupted stretch, 2 district changes, and 0 material service breaks.
- First House service
- Jan 4, 2005
- District changes
- 2
- Alignment gap
- 76.2
- Bioguide record
C001059
THE DISTRICT
CA-21
CA-21 had a retained 2024 presidential Democratic margin of D+3.8. Incumbent cash on hand is $937.8K as of 2026-08-04. The incumbent reported $937,779 cash on hand through 2026-06-30.
- 2024 presidential margin
- D+3.8
- Cash on hand
- $938,779
- Receipts / disbursements
- $1,338,630 / $608,734
- Finance through
- Jun 30, 2026
- Route
- AIPAC-supported blue
- Baseline score
- 59.4
SCORE ANATOMY
What makes the score
Blue baseline
0.0
District Democratic baseline contributes 0.0 points; the retained 2024 presidential margin is D+3.8.
Primary feasibility
19.7
Current partial feasibility evidence contributes 19.7 points and remains incomplete.
AIPAC support
94.1
Retained FEC AIPAC evidence contributes 94.1 points; tracker labels are context only and are not double counted.
Incumbent alignment gap
76.2
The retained voting trackers produce a 76.2-point alignment gap.
Cash vulnerability
36.3
The FEC candidate summary snapshot (2026-06-30) reports $938,779 cash on hand, replacing the $937,779 release aggregate. The inverse log scale is 100 at $50,000 or less and 0 at $5 million or more.
HOUSE HISTORY
Recorded service
2005–2007CA-20Completed term
2007–2009CA-20Completed term
2009–2011CA-20Completed term
2011–2013CA-20Completed term
2013–2015CA-16Completed term
2015–2017CA-16Completed term
2017–2019CA-16Completed term
2019–2021CA-16Completed term
2021–2023CA-16Completed term
2023–2025CA-21Completed term
2025–nowCA-21Current at source cutoff