Moderate Democrat fends off liberal primary challenge in California 

Moderate Rep. Jim Costa (D-Calif.) defeated his most serious primary challenge to date this week and will advance to the general election in November against Republican Kevin Cookingham.

Costa, an eight-term incumbent and member of the Blue Dog Coalition, faced a liberal challenge from Fresno City Councilwoman Esmeralda Soria.

The Associated Press declared Costa the winner of the Democratic race on Friday afternoon, three days after the primary.

Soria, 37, successfully prevented Costa from winning the state Democratic Party’s endorsement for seat, underscoring his vulnerability in Tuesday’s primary race.

But Costa, 67, still held a cash advantage with more than $1 million in the bank over Soria’s $345,000. He also secured endorsements from members of the state party establishment like California Democratic Sens. Kamala Harris and Dianne Feinstein as well as Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Soria, the daughter of Mexican immigrant farmworkers, has pledged to reject corporate PAC funds and supports “Medicare for All.”

Costa has voted with Republicans to back policies like delaying implementation of ozone standards and rejecting a push on the left to abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement, but he also has voted in line with Democrats on issues like impeaching President Trump.

The Central Valley district is not expected to be competitive in the general election, given that Democrats hold a 20-point voter registration advantage there.

Costa handily won reelection in the last two cycles, but only narrowly defeated a little-known Republican in the 2014 midterms in a race that had not been considered competitive. 

A third Democrat, Kimberly Williams, also ran in Tuesday’s primary even further to the left than Soria, but didn’t gain as much traction.

Cookingham, a former educator and director of Hume Lake Christian Camps, is far behind both Costa or Soria in fundraising with just a little over $85,000.