Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

US Consumer Sentiment Weakens in August, Inflation Expectations Rise

6 hours ago

Outside Lands 2025: Where Music, Love, and Community Collide

1 day ago

Federal Judge Orders Trump Admin to Restore Hundreds of UCLA Research Grants

1 day ago

Trump Names Rosner as Chair of Energy Regulator

1 day ago

Wall Street Slips as Hot Producer Inflation Data Dampens Rate-Cut Bets

1 day ago

Trump Says He Thinks Putin Will Make a Deal

1 day ago

Fresno Unified Wants Parents to Know About New Resources as School Begins

2 days ago

Trump Revokes Biden-Era Order on Competition, White House Says

2 days ago

US Judge Blocks Trump Religious Exemption to Birth Control Coverage

2 days ago

Trump Says He Will Name New Fed Chair ‘a Little Bit Earlier’

2 days ago
Will 2018 Bring a Walkover Win for Democrat Costa?
Portrait of GV Wire News Director Bill McEwen
By Bill McEwen, News Director
Published 8 years ago on
January 4, 2018

Share


Opinion by
Bill McEwen
Things are looking good for Democratic Congressman Jim Costa of Fresno — even with Donald Trump in the White House and Republicans in control of the House of Representatives and Senate.
Costa told me Wednesday that he’s running for re-election.
No one else has pulled papers to run for the 16th Congressional seat, according to the California Secretary of State’s website. In addition, Costa reports having raised about $1.1 million for the campaign. Finally, he has lost 35 pounds following knee-replacement surgery and says he feels better than he has in years.
“Every day is an adventure.” — Rep. Jim Costa on politics with Donald Trump in the White House

During his time in Congress, Costa typically has survived by razor-thin margins in mid-term elections.
He didn’t officially turn back Hanford cherry grower Andy Vidak in 2010 until almost three weeks after the ballots were cast. In 2014, challenger Johnny Tacherra, a Fresno County dairyman, actually attended the House’s freshman orientation. But Costa went from trailing on election night to winning by 1,319 votes thanks to strong Fresno County support.
In the last presidential election, Costa vanquished Tacherra in a rematch by a comfortable margin.

Cook Political Report: 16th Solidly Democratic

Even though the respected Cook Political Report forecasts the 16th District race as “solid Democratic,” Costa says that he’s leaving nothing to chance. He also is more cautious in assessing the Democrats’ chances of taking back the House than some other party members.
“Ultimately, this election is going to be a referendum on Trump, just as any mid-term is a referendum on the president,” Costa said. “If the economy is going well and voters believe that Trump is making America great again, we’ll still pick up a few seats in the House.
“But if the trends seen in the special elections and the polls continue, we can win back the House and possibly the Senate.”
The war of words between Trump and his former strategist, Steve Bannon, burned up social media Wednesday. All Costa would say about the Trump presidency is, “Every day is an adventure.”

Costa Seeks DACA, CHIP Extensions

Costa, who is co-chair of the House’s 18-member Blue Dog Coalition of conservative Democrats, said that his focus is on renewing funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program and extending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.
“Two million of the (nine) million children covered by CHIP are in California, many of them here in the Valley,” Costa said. “Funding this program is a must.”
CHIP covers children in families that earn too much to qualify for Medicaid, but not enough to afford private health coverage.
Congress missed a Sept. 30 deadline to reauthorize funding for the federally funded, state-administered effort. But it did add $3 billion in funding before the holiday break to prevent CHIP from running out of money.
In September, Trump ordered a March 5, 2018 end for DACA. There is bipartisan support for continuing the program, which protects about 800,000 young immigrants brought to the United States as children and allows them to work.
Trump, at times, has also expressed support for Dreamers. But last week the president said the only way he would approve a DACA deal is if it includes border wall funding.


 

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Madera County Man Arrested in Fatal Crash Case

DON'T MISS

Fresno Two-Vehicle Crash Near Highway 168 Entrance Causes Traffic Delays

DON'T MISS

Tulare County Authorities Close Kings River to Motorized Watercraft for Season

DON'T MISS

Fresno Home Destroyed in Accidental Fire. Neighbor Helps Residents Escape

DON'T MISS

Man Fleeing an Immigration Raid Dies After Running Onto an LA Freeway

DON'T MISS

Fresno County Traffic Stop Yields Five Pound Cocaine Bust

DON'T MISS

Kevin McCarthy, Redistricting Commission’s Popularity Stand in Newsom’s Way

DON'T MISS

Tulare County Gas Stations Vandalized, Credit Card Scanners Stolen

DON'T MISS

California Man Rescued From Behind Waterfall After 2 Days

DON'T MISS

Washington Sues to Stop Federal Takeover of Police Department

UP NEXT

Fresno Two-Vehicle Crash Near Highway 168 Entrance Causes Traffic Delays

UP NEXT

Tulare County Authorities Close Kings River to Motorized Watercraft for Season

UP NEXT

Fresno Home Destroyed in Accidental Fire. Neighbor Helps Residents Escape

UP NEXT

Man Fleeing an Immigration Raid Dies After Running Onto an LA Freeway

UP NEXT

Fresno County Traffic Stop Yields Five Pound Cocaine Bust

UP NEXT

Kevin McCarthy, Redistricting Commission’s Popularity Stand in Newsom’s Way

UP NEXT

Tulare County Gas Stations Vandalized, Credit Card Scanners Stolen

UP NEXT

California Man Rescued From Behind Waterfall After 2 Days

UP NEXT

Washington Sues to Stop Federal Takeover of Police Department

UP NEXT

US Health Chief Kennedy Says No Plans for 2028 Presidential Run

Bill McEwen,
News Director
Bill McEwen is news director and columnist for GV Wire. He joined GV Wire in August 2017 after 37 years at The Fresno Bee. With The Bee, he served as Opinion Editor, City Hall reporter, Metro columnist, sports columnist and sports editor through the years. His work has been frequently honored by the California Newspapers Publishers Association, including authoring first-place editorials in 2015 and 2016. Bill and his wife, Karen, are proud parents of two adult sons, and they have two grandsons. You can contact Bill at 559-492-4031 or at Send an Email

Fresno Home Destroyed in Accidental Fire. Neighbor Helps Residents Escape

1 hour ago

Man Fleeing an Immigration Raid Dies After Running Onto an LA Freeway

2 hours ago

Fresno County Traffic Stop Yields Five Pound Cocaine Bust

2 hours ago

Kevin McCarthy, Redistricting Commission’s Popularity Stand in Newsom’s Way

3 hours ago

Tulare County Gas Stations Vandalized, Credit Card Scanners Stolen

3 hours ago

California Man Rescued From Behind Waterfall After 2 Days

3 hours ago

Washington Sues to Stop Federal Takeover of Police Department

3 hours ago

US Health Chief Kennedy Says No Plans for 2028 Presidential Run

3 hours ago

Redistricting Fight Continues as Texas Governor Abbott Calls New Special Legislative Session

3 hours ago

California Legislature’s Final Weeks Could Decide Delta Water Tunnel’s Fate

4 hours ago

Madera County Man Arrested in Fatal Crash Case

A man wanted in connection with a fatal 2024 vehicle collision was arrested Thursday afternoon in Madera County, authorities said. The Mader...

8 minutes ago

Brandon Johns, 40, was wanted in a fatal 2024 crash and for removing his ankle monitor was arrested Thursday without incident, authorities said. (Madera County SO)
8 minutes ago

Madera County Man Arrested in Fatal Crash Case

A two-vehicle crash near the westbound Highway 168 entrance from Shields Avenue in Fresno on Friday, August 18, 2025, caused traffic delays Friday but resulted in no injuries, police said. (Special to GV Wire)
12 minutes ago

Fresno Two-Vehicle Crash Near Highway 168 Entrance Causes Traffic Delays

The Tulare County Sheriff’s Office has closed the Kings River to all motorized watercraft for the season due to unsafe water levels and hidden hazards, though swimming and floating remain allowed. (Tulare County SO)
47 minutes ago

Tulare County Authorities Close Kings River to Motorized Watercraft for Season

A Fresno house was destroyed in an accidental fire Thursday, but all residents escaped safely thanks to a neighbor’s warning.
1 hour ago

Fresno Home Destroyed in Accidental Fire. Neighbor Helps Residents Escape

Photo of caution tape
2 hours ago

Man Fleeing an Immigration Raid Dies After Running Onto an LA Freeway

CHP officers seized five pounds of cocaine during a Fresno County traffic stop, and the driver was booked on multiple drug charges and an outstanding out-of-state warrant on Wednesday, August 13, 2025. (CHP)
2 hours ago

Fresno County Traffic Stop Yields Five Pound Cocaine Bust

3 hours ago

Kevin McCarthy, Redistricting Commission’s Popularity Stand in Newsom’s Way

Thieves vandalized gas pumps and stole credit card scanners from two Springville markets early Thursday, August 14, 2025, and Tulare County detectives are investigating. (Tulare County SO)
3 hours ago

Tulare County Gas Stations Vandalized, Credit Card Scanners Stolen

Search

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Send this to a friend