Jim Costa

With Craig the top Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee and Sen. Amy Klobuchar on the shortlist for ranking member of the Senate Ag Committee, Minnesota has significant influence in ag.

Lighting up the darkness and giving gifts to children are beloved parts of most of our winter holiday traditions. We have the opportunity to give a collective gift of clean, reliable, and affordable light and power to all the children in our country. Right now, the slow and outdated permitting process means that building out [...]The post Congress Can Give Us Clean Affordable Energy in 2025 appeared first on GV Wire.

Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is charting a new, more detached course for working her will on the Democratic caucus she once ruled with an iron fist, numerous lawmakers familiar with the matter tell Axios.Why it matters: Pelosi's colleagues described a laissez faire approach to backing candidates in committee leadership elections that gives House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) space to settle into his role.During her reign, Pelosi "would actively have her hands on these races" and would "prevent them from even happening" in some cases, said one veteran House Democrat."That's not what happened here. I think it is a different model," the lawmaker added."If folks are looking for this narrative that Nancy Pelosi was behind the curtain orchestrating [things], I don't think that happened," said Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.). Driving the news: Pelosi encouraged several committee ranking member candidates to jump into their races – but her choices racked up a mixed record on Tuesday when House Democrats met to vote on contested roles.Huffman was elected ranking member of the Natural Resources Committee – though his one rival, Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), dropped out before the vote.Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) defeated Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) to become Oversight Committee ranking member with Pelosi's endorsement.Rep. Jim Costa (D-Calif.), another Pelosi-backed Californian, lost to Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn.) in the race to lead the Agriculture Committee.Zoom in: Pelosi was physically absent from the elections due to a hip replacement surgery she received in Germany over the weekend after a fall during a congressional trip.Still, former House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), Pelosi's longtime deputy, said in a speech supporting Costa that he spoke for the former speaker as well, multiple lawmakers in the room told Axios.What they're saying: Huffman told Axios after the elections that he and others have gone to Pelosi "for her counsel," but that her role as a booster largely ended with her encouraging candidates to run.Rep. Greg Meeks (D-N.Y.), who spoke on behalf of Connolly, said of Pelosi's support for the Virginian: "I don't think it was a factor.""I mean, it's a good factor when anybody plays a role. But, look, you heard Steny in another race say that the speaker emerita was [supporting Costa], and that was a different result," he added.An Ocasio-Cortez ally told Axios they "haven't heard people talking so much" about Pelosi's role and that the frustration in AOC's camp is focused on certain other top House Democrats who backed Connolly.Between the lines: Pelosi did some campaigning for her candidates, as Axios has reported. But numerous House Democrats said Tuesday that activity appeared to be fairly limited and fell short of a true whip operation."As one of her strong supporters, she never said anything to me," said Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.), positing that there were "some overstatements about ... this theory [that] she had to have her hands in some of this."Said a senior House Democrat: "I did not have a conversation with the former speaker at all, and ... if she was a part of it, I wasn't aware of it."Another senior House Democrat told Axios they "didn't hear about any calls," and, noting Pelosi's hip replacement surgery, said that "of course she was not in much of a position to make calls the last week."Yes, but: Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.), a vocal Connolly ally, argued Pelosi's backing of Connolly still "definitely helped" him consolidate support."And [Hoyer] too," he said. "Two very respected people who have been in leadership for 20-plus years."

Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) on Tuesday defeated Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) to lead Democrats on the Oversight and Accountability Committee in the next Congress, putting the feisty liberal veteran in one of the most powerful spots to confront President-elect Trump in his second term. The win was forecast a day earlier, when the Democratic Steering [...]

'In great hands'

A growing band of younger House Democrats is challenging senior members for powerful congressional posts.

House Democratic leadership on Thursday laid out their timeline for deciding their committee ranking members in the 119th Congress.Why it matters: Democrats will have to adjudicate several hotly contested battles as part of effort by some lawmakers to oust some of their party's oldest panel leaders.House Democrats' Steering and Policy Committee will first meet to make recommendations on panel leadership and filling vacant seats.Then the full House Democratic caucus will have to vote on whether to approve those recommendations.Driving the news: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and his leadership team will decide on the membership of the steering committee this week, the three current co-chairs wrote in a letter first obtained by Axios.The panel will then hold meetings on Dec. 10 and 16 to make recommendations on committee ranking memberships, filling vacant committee slots and committee assignments for new members.Zoom out: Democrats have at least three potentially contested committee fights.Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) is running unopposed to lead the Natural Resources Committee after incumbent ranking member Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.) withdrew his reelection bid, but Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) may jump into that race in Grijalva's stead.Reps. Angie Craig (D-Minn.) and Jim Costa (D-Calif.) are both challenging Agriculture Committee ranking member David Scott (D-Ga.).Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) is running for Oversight Committee ranking member and is expected to face a challenge from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Axios first reported.Zoom in: Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), the current Oversight ranking member, had been running to unseat Judiciary Committee ranking member Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), but Nadler withdrew on Wednesday and endorsed Raskin.Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) told Axios on Wednesday that she is supporting "some" of these challenges to incumbent ranking members.

Rep. Jamie Raskin, who served as the lead Democratic prosecutor in Donald Trump's second impeachment trial, will challenge Rep. Jerry Nadler for House Judiciary chairman.

Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) is taking steps towards a run to unseat House Judiciary Committee ranking member Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) after initially leaning against it, Axios has learned.Why it matters: Raskin has seen a groundswell of support from colleagues serious enough that it prompted leadership to check in with him about his intentions, sources familiar with the matter tell Axios.The impending Trump administration and fully GOP-controlled Congress is fueling a multi-committee push to oust some of House Democrats' oldest leaders in favor of more vigorous alternatives.What he's saying: "I'm not ruling anything out at this point," Raskin said Sunday in a CNN "State of the Union" appearance.He added: "We're engaged in conversations all with the purpose of creating ... a really effective and muscular opposition."Raskin's office told Axios he hopes to make his plans clear to his colleagues next week.What we're hearing: Raskin is leaning towards running after a week of deliberations and has been calling colleagues to gauge support, several senior Democratic sources told Axios.Raskin had privately dismissed the notion last week, but a "very heavy pressure campaign" waged by colleagues from various factions swayed him to seriously consider it, according to numerous sources.The most notable exhortation came from House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), the New York Times first reported and sources confirmed to Axios. Raskin has told colleagues that leadership approached him last month about his plans, according to one lawmaker familiar with his comments.Yes, but: "Leader Hakeem Jeffries has great respect for Ranking Member Jerry Nadler and spent 10 productive years serving alongside him on the House Judiciary Committee," Jeffries spokesperson Andy Eichar told Axios.Eichar added: "By tradition, House Democratic leadership does not get involved in internal caucus races and any suggestion to the contrary is false, speculative and entirely reliant once again on unnamed sources."A spokesperson for Pelosi did not respond to multiple requests for comment.State of play: Raskin, 61, is the the current ranking member of the House Oversight Committee and a former Jan. 6 committee member.Nadler, 77, has led Democrats on the Judiciary Committee since 2017 and said in a letter last month he is seeking to retain his role.There have been pervasive concerns about Nadler's ability to lead his panel in opposition to Republicans and President-elect Trump.The other side: "I am ready, willing, and able to take on Donald Trump and the House Republicans. I am younger than President Trump, and I have fought him my entire career both in NY and Washington, DC," Nadler said in a statement to Axios. "I will put my record of accomplishment as Chairman and Ranking Member against anyone and I'm honored to have the strong support of the caucus," he added.Nadler has been making calls to colleagues during the Thanksgiving break, according to a source close to the New Yorker.The source said that, in addition to the "strong support" Nadler has received, some have said a challenge would do "serious harm" to House Democrats.Zoom out: This would be the third battle between a septuagenarian committee ranking member and one or more relatively younger challengers.Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) is challenging House Natural Resources Committee ranking member Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.) for his role.And Reps. Angie Craig (D-Minn.) and Jim Costa (D-Calif.) are both vying to oust Agriculture Committee ranking member David Scott (D-Ga.).In addition to the impending Republican trifecta, Democrats' lack of committee term limits is a significant driver behind these efforts.What's next: House Democrats' steering committee is expected to meet this month to vote on its recommendations for committee roles.The full House Democratic caucus will then have to vote, likely also this month, on whether to ratify those picks.Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional reporting.

For moderate House Democrats, the post-mortem conclusions about what happened Nov. 5 come down to being humble, authentic and willing to listen.

Rep. Jim Costa, D-Calif., is the second-most senior Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee.

Encinitas election results indicate a shift in housing policy as candidates opposed to state housing mandates lead in the races, signaling potential friction with Sacramento's directives.

Democratic Rep. Jim Costa was re-elected to serve another term in California's 21st Congressional District after over a week of counting ballots.

Democrat Jim Costa wins reelection to U.S. House in California's 21st Congressional District

As of publication time, there are 17 races that have yet to be called by The Associated Press as the balance sits at 214–204.

Control of the House has yet to be determined, as a number of critical races remain too close to call, leaving lawmakers — and voters — waiting to see which party will hold the majority next year. The sprint to 218 seats, however, is nearing the final stretch, after a handful of additional races were called [...]

Data: Associated Press; Chart: Axios VisualsThey're still counting votes in 28 uncalled House races, but even Democrats admit that Republicans are on track to keep their majority in 2025.Why it matters: House Democrats are the last shot to prevent a GOP trifecta in D.C. next year. Republicans have retaken the Senate majority, and President-elect Trump will be inaugurated on Jan. 20. [The chart above is organized over how the races were expected to go ahead of Election Day. Republicans lead in two seats that were expected to go to Democrats, while Democrats lead in zero races expected to go red.]State of play: Democrats are looking to five Republican-held seats in California and two in Arizona — as well as GOP incumbent Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks in Iowa who's likely headed for a recount — as their last hope of obtaining the chamber.Republicans currently lead in all those seats, and Democrats also need to protect remaining vulnerable seats in California, Colorado and elsewhere.House Democrats' optimism is dwindling, with some now predicting their best case scenario is falling just one seat short of the House majority.Zoom in: Both parties are looking to California as the final House battleground, especially if Reps. Juan Ciscomani (R-Ariz.) and David Schweikert (R-Ariz.) hold on.Reps. Mike Levin (D-Calif.), Jim Costa (D-Calif.) and Josh Harder (D-Calif.) all lead by surprisingly narrow margins, though Republicans concede those are long-shots and Democrats feel confident about all three.Both parties say the race between Republican Scott Baugh and Democrat Dave Min for retiring Rep. Katie Porter's (D-Calif.) seat could go either way.Republicans believe they have a shot at protecting all five of their vulnerable incumbents in California, though Rep. John Duarte's (R-Calif.) and Mike Garcia's (R-Calif.) races both appear to be particular nail-biters.What they're saying: Duarte told Axios he is "in a better position now" than in 2022 against Democratic opponent Adam Gray, when he squeaked out a win by less than half a percentage point.The California races were discussed on a Democratic leadership call on Wednesday, with one senior House Democrat coming out of the call predicting "a few seats in [California] ... will move our way."

Congressmember Jim Costa is telling his election rival to take down a video ad, claiming it is filled with lies. The ad from Kingsburg businessman and Republican Michael Maher posted on YouTube on Oct. 1, and has also aired on Fresno-area TV stations. Entitled “Costa’s 50 Years in Washington: Time for Real Change in the [...]The post Costa Tells Maher to Take Down ‘Defamatory’ Campaign Ad appeared first on GV Wire.

Races for Congress, the California Legislature, city and county panels and school boards all will be seen on ballots in November.

The quake was followed by a 2.7 magnitude aftershock, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

It’s all too common to hear elderly people say, “I’m ready to go.” That sad phrase means they’ve either lost a spouse or feel they’re no longer useful because of some infirmity or other reasons.

A Biden/Harris administration program has allowed tens of thousands of migrants from Latin America fly to the U.S. as refugees despite the majority being economic migrants.

A bipartisan group of 50 House lawmakers is urging the Biden administration to hasten its compliance with a judge's order to reverse its pause on new LNG export permits.

A total of 37 Democrats in Congress have called on Biden to drop out following a rocky debate performance and two gaffe-filled public appearances.

A total of 36 Democrats in Congress have called on Biden to drop out following a rocky debate performance and two gaffe-filled public appearances.

Two senior House Democrats believe Biden could leave the 2024 presidential race within days after a pressure campaign from top Democratic lawmakers.

Increasingly more Democrats in Congress have called on Biden to drop out following a rocky debate performance and two gaffe-filled public appearances.

Increasingly more Democrats in Congress have called on Biden to drop out following a rocky debate performance and two gaffe-filled public appearances.