Biography:

Jim Costa's grandparents immigrated to the Central Valley from Portugal's Azores Islands over 100 years ago. Born April 13, 1952, he was raised on a dairy farm in Fresno and still farms almonds on his family's old property.

He graduated from California State University, Fresno with a degree in political science in 1978. Costa's interest in politics was peaked as a junior in college when he had an internship with California Rep. B.F. Sisk.

After he graduated, he worked for other legislators before running for the state Assembly in 1978, winning on his first try. He served in the Assembly until term limits prevented him from running again in 1994, then served two terms in the state Senate from 1994 to 2002.

He's a past president of the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Cost is single and has no children.

Past Campaigns:

Jim Costa is running for the seat vacated by Democratic Rep. Cal Dooley, who decided not to run for re-election. Dooley's retirement prompted a contentious contest between Costa and Lisa Quigley, Dooley's former chief of staff, who he endorsed.

Costa won the March 2004 primary with 73 percent of the vote, tarring Quigley as a carpetbagger with no electoral experience. Quigley attacked Costa's voting record and his recent work as a lobbyist. Costa will face Republican state Sen. Roy Ashburn in the November 2004 election.

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