Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
GOP's Cookingham Likes His Chances in Valley's Blue CA-16
David Website Replacement
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 5 years ago on
December 5, 2019

Share

Many Republicans have tried to knock off Jim Costa since the congressman representing Fresno and the Central Valley first won federal office in 2004.
Some have come close, like Johnny Tacherra in 2014 — to the point he attended freshman orientation in Washington, D.C. — before Costa was declared the winner.
Some haven’t come close. In his last two general elections — a rematch vs. Tacherra in 2016 and against Elizabeth Heng in 2018 — voters sided with Costa by 58% each time.

Cookingham: Soria’s Presence in Race Helps Me

But 2020 shapes up as a different kind of election. Costa’s top challenger perhaps is a fellow Democrat, Fresno councilwoman Emeraldsa Soria.
Looking at the ballot, Republican candidate Kevin Cookingham sees a path to victory.
That’ll split the vote on the Democrat side,” Cookingham said. “That is somewhat of a help to me.”
In California’s primary system, the top two vote-getters move on to the November general election, regardless of party.
The most recent Secretary of State voter figures show a strong edge in Democratic registration, 44%-25% over the Republicans. The GOP even lags behind no party preference, at 26%.
A fourth candidate, Democrat Kim Williams of Merced, is also running.

Has Democratic Party Moved Too Far Left?


“There are a lot of wonderful Democrats that feel their leadership has gone too far left. And I think that we’re going to be able to pull a lot of those people into our fold as far as voting for me.”Republican candidate Kevin Cookingham
Cookingham welcomed about 40 supporters at a recent meet-and-greet fundraiser at DiCicco’s restaurant in Clovis. He says his values fit what he believes is a conservative district.
“There are a lot of wonderful Democrats that feel their leadership has gone too far left. And I think that we’re going to be able to pull a lot of those people into our fold as far as voting for me,” Cookingham said.
However, Costa is a member of the moderate Blue Dog Democratic caucus. Still, Cookingham classifies Costa as a liberal.
“I didn’t think he used to be, but he’s been pulled that way,” Cookingham said. “I just believe that if we can educate people as far as where he’s headed versus where I am at representing them, I think we can get a lot of votes.”
Cookingham’s strategy is to make it through to the general election.
“I like to know one specific person that I’m going against. Then, I can focus on strategies. Those strategies, by the way, will change over time as we get more into this and we see where the weak areas are versus the strong areas,” Cookingham said.

Promising Results

Cookingham recently retired as the director of the Clovis Adult School. And he recently moved from his longtime Fresno County home to the Riverstone development in Madera County, which is within the 16th District.
If he wins the seat, Cookingham says he’ll concentrate on improving the district’s employment rate.
“When I was the director at Clovis Adult, we focused on bringing people from low economic areas and getting them in career tech education classes, and position them for success and then getting them jobs. We had a huge success rate in that and we can do that in the 16th District,” Cookingham said.
For water, Cookingham wants to “remove people that are in positions that are harming the farmers.”
As many of the water decision-makers are state officials, how would Cookingham usher them from their posts?
“Oh, I have a lot of control. You know how? Influence,” Cookingham said. “What we need to do is have people strategically working with our local farmers, with our legislators here in California. I will put time into work with these people and strategize how to get these people out of office.”

Opposes Impeachment

Not surprisingly, Cookingham opposes the impeachment inquiry against Republican President Donald Trump.
Cookingham said that due process has been “thrown out.”
“There been so many ridiculous things done in this impeachment that totally do away with our due process and innocent until proven guilty,” Cookingham said.
“It reminds me of the Soviet Union. That’s how serious it is. It is wrong.”

Congressional District 16 Map

DON'T MISS

CHP Car Struck by Drunk Driver While Investigating Another Crash

DON'T MISS

Fresno Man Ejected From Car Dies Off McKinley Avenue

DON'T MISS

‘Leave It the Way It Is’: Off-Roaders, Hikers React to Proposal to Change 1.4M Acres of Sierra Forest

DON'T MISS

Yankees Retain Cole, Add $36 Million Extension to Keep Ace

DON'T MISS

5 Reasons Early Voting Is Overwhelmed With Falsehoods

DON'T MISS

Christian McCaffrey Returns to Practice for the 49ers From Achilles Tendon Injury

DON'T MISS

California Sues LA Suburb for Temporary Ban of Homeless Shelters

DON'T MISS

You May Have Blocked Someone on X but Now They Can See Your Public Posts Anyway

DON'T MISS

Some Republican-Led States Refuse to Let Justice Department Monitors Into Polling Places

DON'T MISS

Fresno Police Arrest Suspect in Fatal NW Apartment Shooting

UP NEXT

‘Leave It the Way It Is’: Off-Roaders, Hikers React to Proposal to Change 1.4M Acres of Sierra Forest

UP NEXT

5 Reasons Early Voting Is Overwhelmed With Falsehoods

UP NEXT

Some Republican-Led States Refuse to Let Justice Department Monitors Into Polling Places

UP NEXT

Trump’s Crowds Are Dwindling as His Campaign Winds Down

UP NEXT

Trump Threatens 25% Tariff on Mexico to Curb Immigration

UP NEXT

Sanger Men Arrested in Connection with Slingshot Vandalism Spree at Businesses

UP NEXT

What Is Sierra Unified’s Plan to Boost Lagging Student Achievement?

UP NEXT

Musk PAC Tells Philadelphia Judge the $1 Million Sweepstakes Winners Are Not Chosen by Chance

UP NEXT

Big Spenders: These Companies Are Giving the Most to California Legislative Candidates

UP NEXT

Trump, Musk and an American Masculinity Crisis

David Taub,
Senior Reporter
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email

Yankees Retain Cole, Add $36 Million Extension to Keep Ace

4 hours ago

5 Reasons Early Voting Is Overwhelmed With Falsehoods

4 hours ago

Christian McCaffrey Returns to Practice for the 49ers From Achilles Tendon Injury

4 hours ago

California Sues LA Suburb for Temporary Ban of Homeless Shelters

4 hours ago

You May Have Blocked Someone on X but Now They Can See Your Public Posts Anyway

5 hours ago

Some Republican-Led States Refuse to Let Justice Department Monitors Into Polling Places

5 hours ago

Fresno Police Arrest Suspect in Fatal NW Apartment Shooting

5 hours ago

Fresno Murder Suspect Stopped in Las Vegas, Others Wanted

6 hours ago

Trump’s Crowds Are Dwindling as His Campaign Winds Down

6 hours ago

Trump Threatens 25% Tariff on Mexico to Curb Immigration

6 hours ago

CHP Car Struck by Drunk Driver While Investigating Another Crash

A driver suspected of being under the influence crashed into a California Highway Patrol car early Sunday, officials said. Officers were inv...

1 hour ago

A driver suspected of DUI crashed into a parked California Highway Patrol car at a fatal crash scene in Fresno County, sustaining minor injuries and later being cited. (Fresno County SO)
1 hour ago

CHP Car Struck by Drunk Driver While Investigating Another Crash

fresno
2 hours ago

Fresno Man Ejected From Car Dies Off McKinley Avenue

2 hours ago

‘Leave It the Way It Is’: Off-Roaders, Hikers React to Proposal to Change 1.4M Acres of Sierra Forest

New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole throws against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning in Game 5 of the baseball World Series, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in New York. (AP/Ashley Landis)
4 hours ago

Yankees Retain Cole, Add $36 Million Extension to Keep Ace

Voters cast their ballots at Desert Breeze Community Center in Las Vegas during the last day of in-person early voting in Nevada on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. Nearly 75 million people have cast early ballots, making their voices heard amid worry about the process, the outcome and democracy itself. (Bridget Bennett/The New York Times)
4 hours ago

5 Reasons Early Voting Is Overwhelmed With Falsehoods

4 hours ago

Christian McCaffrey Returns to Practice for the 49ers From Achilles Tendon Injury

4 hours ago

California Sues LA Suburb for Temporary Ban of Homeless Shelters

5 hours ago

You May Have Blocked Someone on X but Now They Can See Your Public Posts Anyway

Search

Send this to a friend