The Winner
If you live in California's 21st U.S. House District, you will continue to be represented in Congress by Jim Costa (D-CA), who has been declared the winner of the 2026 congressional race, according to the California Secretary of State. Costa, the Democratic incumbent, took about 62.7% of the vote (about 62,615 votes) to about 37.3% (about 37,316 votes) for the Republican opponent, Kyle Kirkland, in the Nov. 3 general election, a margin of about 25 points, according to the state's official results as of Nov. 11. Those results are unofficial, so the vote figures are preliminary and the totals may change until certification.
The Race
Kirkland reached the general election ballot by finishing in the top two in the June 2 primary, where he received about 27,076 votes. Cook Political Report rated the seat Solid Democratic heading into Election Day.
California's 21st Congressional District has about 758,000 residents, according to geographic data for the district. Its median household income is about $64,800, and its median age is about 32. About 17.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the unemployment rate is about 10.1%, and about 21.9% of residents live below the poverty line. The population is about 64.9% Hispanic, 29.3% white, 9.8% Asian, and 4.6% Black.
The district covers parts of Fresno and Tulare counties, according to Rep. Jim Costa's House website. Its cities include Fresno, Fowler, Kingsburg, Orange Cove and Parlier.
What's Next
Costa is set to take office on Jan. 3, 2027. He said he wants to pursue further investment in Central Valley infrastructure, including water, transportation, and health care, during his next term, according to Mid Valley Times, which reported his comments to reporter Serena Bettis on Oct. 8.
The state's vote counts for the race are not yet certified.
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