Kyle Kirkland, a Republican, is running for California’s 21st Congressional District in November 2026 against six-term Democratic incumbent Jim Costa, advancing from the June 2026 primary in which Costa led with about 41% to his 29%. Kirkland holds a bachelor’s degree from Harvard and an MBA from Stanford, and built a career spanning investment banking and the musical instrument industry, chairing Steinway Musical Instruments from 1993 to 2011, before moving into the gaming industry. He now owns and operates Club One Casino in Fresno along with cardrooms in Visalia and Watsonville, and serves as president of the California Gaming Association, the trade group representing licensed cardrooms.
Kirkland has publicly clashed with the California Attorney General’s office over proposed regulations that would bar his cardrooms from offering certain blackjack-style games, arguing the push is driven by lobbying from tribal casino interests. A company he controls also sued the City of Fresno and a local sports foundation in 2024 over a parking dispute tied to Club One’s operations, and a Fresno city council member previously required him to hold a neighborhood meeting to demonstrate community support before approving the casino’s expansion to a larger site.
