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Ryan Anthony Costello (born September 7, 1976) is an American politician, lobbyist, and attorney who served as the U.S. representative for Pennsylvania's 6th congressional district from 2015 to 2019. A member of the Republican Party, he was first elected to the Congress in the 2014 midterms. Costello previously served on the Chester County Board of Commissioners (2011–2015), which he chaired from 2013 to 2015.

Key Information

Costello chose not to seek reelection in the 2018 election, and was succeeded by Democrat Chrissy Houlahan. After leaving Congress, Costello became a registered lobbyist.[1]

Early life

[edit]

Costello was born in 1976 to schoolteacher parents.[2] Costello attended Ursinus College and Villanova University School of Law.[3]

Political career

[edit]

Costello served on the Board of Supervisors for East Vincent Township in Chester County, Pennsylvania, for six years, serving as chairman for the last four.[4] He was elected the Chester County recorder of deeds in 2008.[3][5] He was elected to the Chester County Board of Commissioners in 2011.[6] His fellow commissioners elected him as chairman of the commission in 2013, and reappointed in 2014.[7]

U.S. House of Representatives

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Elections

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2014
See also: 2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania § District 6

When Jim Gerlach, the Republican incumbent in Pennsylvania's 6th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives, announced that he would not run for reelection in 2014, Costello chose to run for the Republican Party nomination.[8] He faced no primary opposition.[9] He faced Manan Trivedi of the Democratic Party in the general election.[10] Costello defeated Trivedi, 56%–44%.[11]

2016
See also: 2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania § District 6

In 2016, Democrat Mike Parrish challenged Costello. Hacked material from Parrish was leaked during the campaign, but the Costello campaign took the position that they would not use the illicitly obtained materials during the election.[12] Vincent Galko, a consultant for Costello, said, "When news broke that this material had likely been stolen by a foreign actor, we immediately said, ‘We’re not going to use it.'"[12]

Costello was re-elected by a wide margin of 57.2 to 42.8.[13]

Tenure

[edit]

For his first two terms, Costello represented a district that took in northern Chester County and western Montgomery County, then reached across Berks County to take in much of heavily Republican Lebanon County. However, in February 2018, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court[14] released a new map for the state's congressional districts to replace a map which the court had previously struck down as a Republican partisan gerrymander.[15] The court imposed a new map after the state legislature refused to submit a replacement. Costello was the only incumbent who retained his old district number. However, the 6th was made significantly more compact. It lost most of its heavily Republican western portion, as well as its share of Montgomery County. Instead, it now took in all of Chester County as well as most of the more Democratic portions of Berks County, including Reading.[16] Even before the old map was thrown out, Costello had already attracted a well-financed Democratic challenger, entrepreneur and Air Force veteran Chrissy Houlahan.[14]

According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, "Of the many Republicans who took a political blow from Pennsylvania's new congressional map, Chester County's Ryan Costello got hit the hardest."[14] The new 6th was significantly more Democratic than its predecessor. Had the redrawn district existed in 2016, Hillary Clinton would have won it with 52 percent of the vote to Donald Trump's 43 percent;[17] Clinton carried the old 6th with 48 percent of the vote.[18][19] Along similar lines, Nate Cohn of The New York Times wrote that the new map put Costello in "very serious trouble," and wondered if Costello would even run for a third term.[16]

The Philadelphia Inquirer wrote that "the previous, GOP-drawn map was one factor aiding Republicans as they held a firm grip on every competitive seat in the moderate Philadelphia suburbs."[14] According to the Pottstown Mercury, the Republican-drawn congressional map was "widely viewed as among the nation’s most gerrymandered."[20] After the new congressional map was released, Costello said he supported impeaching the justices who imposed the map, calling the court corrupt and undemocratic.[14] Republicans requested that the United States Supreme Court intervene in the redistricting dispute, although Politico reported that the Republican challenge was unlikely to be successful.[21][22] In March 2018, a panel of federal judges refused to block the new congressional map from going into effect.[23]

In March 2018, Costello filed petitions to get on the 2018 ballot,[24] but later that month, he announced that he was dropping his reelection bid.[25] According to The Hill, he became frustrated with the Trump administration, which contributed to his dropping from the race.[26]

After announcing his retirement, CNN called him a "rare brand in the House GOP conference: a young moderate willing to break with his leadership and his President on everything from gun control bills to repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act."[27] While FiveThirtyEight evaluated Costello's voting record and found that he "voted in line with Trump's position 95.5% of the time,"[28] a ranking by the Lugar Center showed Costello was the ninth most bipartisan member of Congress in 2017 and held the second highest bipartisan ranking of any member of Pennsylvania's congressional delegation.[29] In addition, according to data from Quorum, Costello was ranked number five in the top ten Republican members who vote against their own party.[30] Houlahan went on to win the November general election against Greg McCauley.

Political positions

[edit]

Throughout his tenure, Costello was ranked as one of the most bipartisan Members of Congress, breaking with his party to support environment, health care, and education initiatives.[31] In 2017, Costello ranked ninth out of 435 Members of Congress in bipartisanship.[32]

In May 2017, Costello broke from his party and voted against the Republican health care legislation, the American Health Care Act (AHCA).[33]

In November 2017, Costello voted for the Republican Party's 2017 tax plan that passed the House.[34] He also voted in favor of a 2018 bipartisan bill to fund the federal government.[35]

Electoral history

[edit]
See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania, 2014 § District 6; and United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania, 2016 § District 6
Pennsylvania's 6th Congressional District election, 2014
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ryan Costello 24,313 100
Pennsylvania's 6th Congressional District, 2014
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ryan Costello 119,643 56.29
Democratic Manan Trivedi 92,901 43.71
Total votes 212,544 100
Republican hold
Pennsylvania's 6th Congressional District election, 2016
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ryan Costello (Incumbent) 88,349 100
Total votes 88,349 100
Pennsylvania's 6th Congressional District, 2016
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ryan Costello (Incumbent) 207,469 57.24
Democratic Mike Parrish 155,000 42.76
Total votes 362,469 100
Republican hold

Committee assignments

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115th Congress
114th Congress

Caucus memberships

[edit]

Post-political career

[edit]

After leaving Congress in January 2019, he announced the formation of Ryan Costello Strategies, a consulting firm.[37] In October 2019, it was reported that he planned to register as a lobbyist following the mandatory one-year cooling off period.[1] In 2023, Costello was hired as an outside lobbyist for Google on "openness and competition" issues.[38]

Personal life

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Costello lives along with his wife and two children in West Chester, Pennsylvania.[3] He is a Presbyterian.[39][40]

References

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Further reading

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Ryan Costello

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Ryan Anthony Costello (born September 7, 1976) is an American attorney and former Republican politician who represented Pennsylvania's 6th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 2015 to 2019.[1][2] Born in Chester County, Pennsylvania, Costello earned a B.A. from Ursinus College in 1999 and a J.D. from Villanova University in 2003 before practicing law.[1] He served as a Chester County commissioner from 2011 to 2015, focusing on local governance issues including economic development and infrastructure.[1] During his congressional tenure, Costello sat on committees addressing energy, commerce, transportation, and veterans' affairs, contributing to bipartisan efforts on topics such as infrastructure funding and environmental policy.[3] After leaving Congress in 2019 following an unsuccessful reelection bid, he transitioned to private sector roles, including strategic advising for organizations like Americans for Carbon Dividends and operating his own government relations firm.[4][1]

Early life and education

Upbringing and family background

Ryan Costello was born on September 7, 1976, in Chester County, Pennsylvania.[1] He grew up in the region as the son of two public school teachers, both graduates of West Chester University who worked in the Methacton School District in neighboring Montgomery County.[5][6][7] Costello spent his early years in the rural East Vincent Township village of Sheeder before the family relocated to Phoenixville, where he attended Owen J. Roberts High School, graduating in 1995.[8][1]

Academic and professional preparation

Costello graduated from Owen J. Roberts High School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, in 1995.[1] He received a B.A. from Ursinus College in Collegeville, Pennsylvania, in 1999.[1] Costello then obtained an LL.B. from Villanova University School of Law in 2002.[1] Upon completing law school, Costello entered private practice as an attorney, joining the firm O'Donnell, Weiss & Mattei, P.C., in 2002.[9] His practice focused on land use and zoning, state and local government law, and real estate matters, primarily serving clients in Chester County, Pennsylvania.[10] [9] He maintained this legal career until 2014, while also becoming involved in local Republican politics during this period.[11]

Local government service

Chester County Board of Commissioners

Ryan Costello was appointed to the Chester County Board of Commissioners in February 2011 to complete the term vacated by Carol Aichele, who had left to serve as secretary of the Commonwealth under Governor Tom Corbett.[12] He had previously been elected as Chester County's Recorder of Deeds in 2008, serving from 2008 to 2011.[13] Costello was sworn into the commissioner role on February 17, 2011, committing to prioritize budget management and fiscal responsibility during his interim term.[14] Costello won election to a full four-year term on the board in November 2011 as a Republican, alongside incumbents Terence R. Delaney and Jacqueline C. Ward.[15] He was sworn in for the full term on January 3, 2012, marking the first time a resident of East Vincent Township held the position.[16] During his service, Costello chaired the board from 2013 until his resignation in November 2014 to pursue a congressional campaign.[17] His tenure ended prematurely upon winning election to the U.S. House of Representatives for Pennsylvania's 6th district.[12] As commissioner, Costello focused on fiscal conservatism, successfully balancing county budgets without tax increases while reducing government spending and streamlining operations to shrink the size of county government.[18] He contributed to economic development efforts, including leading the creation of a 10-year strategic plan to promote growth in Chester County.[19] These measures were implemented amid Pennsylvania's post-2008 recession recovery, emphasizing efficiency in areas such as public services and infrastructure without expanding bureaucracy.[4]

Key local policy initiatives

As a member of the Chester County Board of Commissioners from 2011 to 2015, Ryan Costello emphasized fiscal discipline, overseeing an annual budget surpassing $500 million for operations involving over 2,500 employees across 55 departments and 26 ancillary agencies. He led the board in approving multiple balanced budgets without property tax increases, including the 2014 fiscal plan that sustained core services such as public safety, infrastructure maintenance, and social programs while controlling expenditures.[20] Similarly, the 2012 budget reflected ongoing efforts to impose tight fiscal controls and pursue cost-effective alternatives to traditional spending.[21] These measures contributed to broader reductions in county government spending and staff size, prioritizing efficiency without compromising essential functions.[18] Costello's administration preserved the county's AAA bond rating, a marker of financial stability that supported low borrowing costs for capital projects like road repairs and facility upgrades.[22] This rating was maintained amid post-recession recovery pressures, enabling investments in long-term infrastructure without fiscal strain.[14] A cornerstone initiative under Costello's chairmanship was VISTA 2025, the county's inaugural 10-year economic development strategy unveiled in 2014. Co-chaired by Costello, the plan—developed in partnership with the Chester County Economic Development Council and private sector leaders—targeted sustainable growth by promoting mixed-use zoning reforms, startup support ecosystems, and infrastructure enhancements to balance economic expansion with quality-of-life preservation.[23][24] VISTA 2025 stemmed from recommendations in the county's Landscapes2 land-use framework, emphasizing targeted strategies like business incubation and regional connectivity to attract investment while mitigating sprawl.[25][26]

Congressional elections

2014 election

Incumbent Republican Jim Gerlach announced in January 2014 that he would not seek reelection to Pennsylvania's 6th congressional district.[27] Ryan Costello, the Republican chair of the Chester County Board of Commissioners since 2012, entered the race and faced no opponents in the Republican primary on May 20, 2014. On the Democratic side, Manan Trivedi, a physician, attorney, and U.S. Navy Reserve captain who had unsuccessfully challenged Gerlach in 2010 and 2012, won his party's nomination unopposed. In the general election held on November 4, 2014, Costello defeated Trivedi by capturing 56.3 percent of the vote (119,643 votes) to Trivedi's 43.7 percent (92,901 votes), with total turnout at 212,544 votes.[28] The district, comprising suburban areas in Chester and Montgomery counties west of Philadelphia, aligned with the national Republican wave in the 2014 midterms, where the party gained control of the U.S. Senate and expanded its House majority.[29] Costello's campaign emphasized his local government experience and moderate positions, including support for bipartisan infrastructure funding and environmental protections, distinguishing him in a competitive suburban race.[30]

2016 reelection and subsequent retirement

In the 2016 election for Pennsylvania's 6th congressional district, incumbent Republican Ryan Costello faced Democratic challenger Mike Parrish, a former state representative, with no primary opponents for either candidate. The general election occurred on November 8, 2016, amid a national Republican hold on the House despite Donald Trump's presidential victory in Pennsylvania.[31] Costello secured reelection with 57.3% of the vote to Parrish's 42.7%, a margin of 14.6 percentage points, reflecting the district's suburban Republican lean at the time.[32] Costello's campaign emphasized his bipartisan record, including local infrastructure investments and opposition to certain party-line votes, positioning him as a moderate in a district encompassing Chester and Berks counties.[15] Fundraising data showed Costello raising over $2.4 million, outpacing Parrish, which supported a robust advertising effort focused on economic issues rather than national partisanship.[33] On March 25, 2018, Costello announced he would not seek a third term, retiring at the end of his session in January 2019, becoming the third Pennsylvania Republican House member to exit ahead of the midterms.[34] He cited multiple factors, including Pennsylvania's 2018 congressional redistricting by the state supreme court, which altered the 6th district to include more Democratic-leaning areas in Montgomery County, increasing its competitiveness.[35] Costello also expressed frustration with the political discourse dominated by President Trump's controversies, stating that discussions had shifted from policy like tax reform to "porn stars and the president," and that he spent excessive time fielding Trump-related questions rather than legislative work.[36][37] This decision opened the seat to Democrat Chrissy Houlahan, who won in November 2018, contributing to Democrats' gains in suburban Pennsylvania districts.[38] Costello's retirement reflected broader challenges for moderate Republicans navigating intraparty pressures and shifting electoral maps post-2010 gerrymandering reforms.[39]

Legislative record in Congress

Committee assignments and roles

In the 114th United States Congress (2015–2017), Ryan Costello served on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, where he was assigned to the Subcommittees on Aviation, Highways and Transit, and Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.[15][40] He also served on the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, including its Subcommittees on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs and on Economic Opportunity.[41][42] For the 115th Congress (2017–2019), Costello was appointed in January 2017 to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, a shift from his prior assignments that reflected his focus on infrastructure, energy policy, and regulatory issues affecting Pennsylvania's district.[43][11] He additionally served on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, including its Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.[2][44] These roles positioned him to influence bipartisan efforts on transportation funding, veterans' services, energy regulation, and government accountability, though he held no formal committee leadership positions such as chair or ranking member.[11]

Major legislative achievements

Costello introduced H.R. 27, the Ensuring VA Employee Accountability Act, on January 3, 2017, which required the Department of Veterans Affairs to retain copies of all reprimands and admonishments issued to employees in their official personnel records for the duration of employment, aiming to enhance accountability following scandals at VA facilities. The bill passed the House of Representatives on January 11, 2017, by a vote of 416-3, reflecting broad bipartisan support, though it did not advance in the Senate. This measure built on prior VA reform efforts and addressed persistent issues with disciplinary record-keeping that allowed problematic employees to evade consequences.[45] Provisions from H.R. 1546, the Rural Wireless Access Act, which Costello co-introduced with Rep. David Loebsack on March 9, 2017, were incorporated into Section 505 of the broader spectrum pipeline and FCC reauthorization legislation during the 115th Congress.[46] The incorporated language facilitated improved wireless coverage in rural areas by directing the Federal Communications Commission to prioritize spectrum auctions for unserved regions, contributing to expanded broadband infrastructure access without standalone enactment of the original bill.[46] In December 2018, Costello joined Rep. Debbie Dingell to introduce bipartisan legislation amending the Violence Against Women Act to strengthen health-related responses, including enhanced training for healthcare providers on domestic violence prevention and survivor support, though it did not become law during his tenure.[47] His efforts on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, where he served on the Environment Subcommittee, also supported provisions in enacted bills advancing chemical facility security and digital infrastructure, earning recognition from industry groups for pro-manufacturing policies.[4] Overall, Costello's legislative record emphasized practical reforms in veterans' services, rural connectivity, and regulatory efficiency, often through bipartisan collaboration and incorporation into omnibus measures.[48]

Caucus participation

Costello participated in the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, a group of roughly 40 members from both parties focused on developing legislative compromises to address fiscal, healthcare, and infrastructure challenges.[49][50] In August 2017, he contributed to the caucus's release of bipartisan healthcare stabilization proposals, including reforms to cost-sharing reduction payments and Medicaid work requirements.[50] He was also a member of the Tuesday Group, an informal caucus of moderate Republicans that met weekly to coordinate on policy and counter more conservative influences within the party.[49][51] This affiliation underscored his centrist positioning, as the group advocated for pragmatic approaches on issues like healthcare and spending.[52] In June 2017, Costello joined the bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus, which promoted market-oriented strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, such as carbon pricing and technological innovation.[53][54] As an original member, he co-signed letters urging the Trump administration to remain in the Paris Agreement and opposed measures like expanded offshore drilling.[55][56] Costello co-chaired bipartisan workforce training caucuses alongside Rep. French Hill (R-AR), emphasizing apprenticeships, vocational education, and skills development to address labor market gaps.[57] In June 2016, he co-founded the House Public Works and Infrastructure Data and Democracy Caucus with Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV) to advocate for data-driven investments in transportation and utilities.[58] Additionally, in August 2017, he established the Bipartisan Public Service Loan Forgiveness Caucus with Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-PA) to safeguard the PSLF program amid proposed reforms.[59] These roles highlighted his emphasis on cross-party collaboration during his tenure from 2015 to 2019.

Political positions

Fiscal and economic policy

Costello supported Republican-led tax reform efforts, voting in favor of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (H.R. 1) on December 20, 2017, which lowered individual income tax rates across brackets, doubled the standard deduction, and reduced the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%.[60][61] He described the measure as delivering reductions for low- and middle-income families while promoting economic expansion through business investment.[62] Despite reservations about its potential to increase the federal deficit—projected by the Congressional Budget Office at $1.5 trillion over a decade—Costello prioritized the pro-growth elements over immediate fiscal restraint.[63] On federal spending and budgeting, Costello adopted a pragmatic stance, consistently voting for omnibus appropriations packages to avert government shutdowns and sustain military funding, as in the March 2018 $1.3 trillion bill that allocated $700 billion for defense.[64] He criticized President Trump's social media attacks on the spending measure but justified his support by citing national security imperatives and the absence of viable alternatives for deficit reduction in the short term.[64] Costello opposed select Trump administration proposals for deep cuts, such as those targeting environmental and health programs in the fiscal year 2018 budget blueprint, calling them "unacceptable" for undermining essential services without corresponding offsets.[65] His record drew mixed evaluations from conservative groups; Heritage Action for America assigned him a 33% score in the 115th Congress, reflecting infrequent backing for amendments mandating spending reductions, such as those redirecting unobligated funds to deficit offsets.[66] Costello also supported raising the debt ceiling in September 2017 as part of a package providing $15 billion in Hurricane Harvey aid, arguing it prevented default risks amid disaster recovery needs.[67] Prior to entering Congress, as a Chester County commissioner from 2008 to 2015, he implemented the county's inaugural economic development strategy, balanced annual budgets without tax hikes, and preserved its AAA bond rating amid the 2008 recession.[22]

Energy, infrastructure, and science

Costello served on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce from 2017 to 2019, which holds jurisdiction over energy policy, environmental protection, and related oversight.[2] In this role, he advocated for expanding nuclear power and hydropower as components of the U.S. energy mix to mitigate carbon dioxide emissions, expressing skepticism toward proposals for 100 percent renewable energy portfolios.[53] He received the Advanced Energy Leadership Award from Advanced Energy United in 2018 for supporting policies that promoted growth in the $200 billion advanced energy sector, including clean technologies and grid modernization.[68] On climate change, Costello co-sponsored a 2017 resolution with Republican colleagues affirming the scientific consensus on human-caused global warming and calling for congressional action, positioning it as a non-partisan issue akin to gravity in its evidentiary basis.[69] [70] His stance emphasized legislative solutions over executive actions, though he acknowledged ambiguity in attributing climate drivers solely to human activity while favoring market-oriented approaches like innovation in energy technologies.[53] During his first term, Costello sat on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, influencing policies on roads, transit, and related federal investments.[42] He voted in favor of the Reclamation Title Transfer and Non-Federal Infrastructure Incentivization Act in 2018, which aimed to streamline water infrastructure projects by transferring federal titles to non-federal entities and providing incentives for private involvement.[71] Post-Congress, he publicly endorsed increased federal funding for infrastructure, stating in 2019 that safe roads, reliable water systems, and transit were non-partisan necessities for Pennsylvania.[72] Costello also co-introduced the Measuring the Economic Impact of Broadband Act in 2018 with Rep. Ro Khanna, directing the Bureau of Economic Analysis to study broadband's contributions to GDP and employment as part of digital infrastructure assessment.[73] Costello participated in the Congressional STEM Caucus, supporting initiatives to bolster science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education and research.[5] Through the Energy and Commerce Committee, he contributed to oversight of technology and environmental science policies, including hearings on emerging issues like data privacy in scientific applications.[74] His post-Congressional advocacy has included calls for innovation-driven solutions to environmental challenges, prioritizing technological advancement over regulatory litigation.[75]

Social and foreign policy issues

Costello held pro-life positions on abortion, opposing taxpayer funding through the Affordable Care Act in January 2015 and supporting a ban on abortions after 20 weeks of gestation except when the mother's life was at risk in May 2015.[76] These stances aligned with mainstream Republican views during his tenure, reflecting votes on bills like the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. On drugs, he received a B rating from NORML in November 2016, indicating a relatively favorable view toward marijuana policy reform compared to stricter party orthodoxies.[76] Regarding civil rights and LGBT issues, Costello opposed legislation to elevate gender identity as a protected class in May 2016, signaling resistance to expanded transgender protections in areas like employment and public accommodations.[76] He did not publicly challenge the 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide, consistent with his moderate profile, though his civil rights vote suggested traditional boundaries on related expansions. On education, he opposed no-strings-attached federal block grants to states in July 2015 and private or religious school vouchers in October 2015, favoring maintained federal oversight over school choice mechanisms.[76] Immigration policy saw Costello adopt moderate positions, opposing mass deportation of undocumented immigrants in statements from July and September 2014 and voting in June 2016 to provide a path to legal status for DREAMers through military service.[76] This reflected a pragmatic approach in his suburban Pennsylvania district, prioritizing enforcement alongside targeted legalization over comprehensive amnesty or open borders. In foreign policy, Costello supported a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict despite Israeli settlement expansions, as stated in January 2017, emphasizing diplomatic resolution amid ongoing territorial disputes.[76] He voted in favor of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (H.R. 5515), which authorized military spending and operations, aligning with Republican support for sustained defense budgets.[15] On the 2015 Iran nuclear deal (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action), he joined most House Republicans in rejecting H.R. 3461 to approve the agreement on September 11, 2015, by a vote of 162-250.[15] Costello also backed assistance to Ukraine's military and security forces via H.R. 955 in 2015, underscoring commitment to countering Russian influence in Eastern Europe.[40]

Controversies and criticisms

Relations with President Trump

Costello's congressional tenure overlapped with the early years of Donald Trump's presidency, during which he adopted a selective stance toward the administration's priorities, often prioritizing the preferences of his politically mixed suburban district over strict party-line adherence. He supported the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, voting yes on the House's concurrence with the Senate amendment on December 20, 2017, and later defended the measure as beneficial for middle-income families despite its addition to the national debt.[77] [62] In contrast, he opposed key elements of Trump's health care agenda, voting against the American Health Care Act on May 4, 2017, due to projected coverage reductions for Pennsylvania residents reliant on Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act.[78] [79] Throughout 2017 and 2018, Costello maintained distance from Trump personally and politically, avoiding joint campaign appearances during his own reelection efforts and refraining from enthusiastic endorsements of the president as the Republican nominee in 2016.[80] His overall alignment with conservative policy goals, including those advanced by the Trump administration, was low, as evidenced by a 33% score from Heritage Action in the 115th Congress, reflecting votes against measures like certain spending bills tied to border security priorities.[66] Costello's relations grew more strained after his March 2018 retirement announcement, which he partly attributed to the dominance of Trump-related scrutiny that eclipsed substantive legislative discussion.[37] He publicly blamed Trump's inflammatory rhetoric for exacerbating national polarization and hindering moderate Republicans' electoral viability in swing districts.[81] Following the 2018 midterms, in which Democrats flipped his seat, Costello sharply criticized Trump's assertion that GOP losses resulted from insufficient loyalty to him, describing the president's mockery of defeated colleagues as akin to "dancing on somebody's grave."[82] [83] This exchange underscored broader tensions between Trump and institutionalist Republicans like Costello, who viewed the president's style as disruptive to bipartisan problem-solving.[84]

Ethics complaints and partisan attacks

In October 2015, the American Democracy Legal Fund, a progressive advocacy group, filed an ethics complaint with the Office of Congressional Ethics against U.S. Rep. Ryan Costello (R-PA) and 22 other House Republicans, alleging they violated House rules by signing a contract with the Republican Majority for America that pledged support for Speaker John Boehner in exchange for financial backing toward their 2016 reelection campaigns.[85][86] The complaint claimed the arrangement improperly used official resources for partisan political purposes, but no formal investigation or finding of violation against Costello resulted, and the matter received no further public action from congressional ethics bodies.[85] Costello's record on ethics oversight contrasted with such accusations; in January 2017, he voted against a House Republican resolution that would have curtailed the independence of the Office of Congressional Ethics by shifting some of its functions to the less autonomous House Ethics Committee, joining a minority of GOP members in preserving external scrutiny of lawmakers.[87] During his tenure, Costello faced partisan attacks primarily from Democratic groups and opponents, who targeted him as a vulnerable moderate in Pennsylvania's 6th Congressional District. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) designated him a prime target in 2017, launching Twitter campaigns and ads criticizing his votes on health care and taxes, framing him as aligned with partisan Republican priorities despite his occasional breaks from party lines.[88] His 2016 Democratic challenger, Mike Parrish, accused Costello of insufficient opposition to Donald Trump, highlighting his endorsement of the Republican nominee as evidence of complicity in divisive rhetoric.[89] Additional incidents underscored partisan tensions, including a August 2016 leak of DCCC internal documents by a Russian hacker targeting Costello's opponents, which he publicly declined to exploit, stating it would undermine electoral integrity.[90] In January 2018, Costello alleged that two campaign workers for his Democratic successor candidate trespassed and harassed his family at his home, prompting a police report, though the individuals denied intent and no charges followed.[91] These episodes, amid broader Democratic efforts to flip suburban seats, contributed to the polarized environment Costello cited in his 2018 decision not to seek reelection.[81]

Moderate stances and conservative backlash

Costello's affiliation with the Republican Main Street Partnership and the Tuesday Group underscored his moderate orientation within the GOP, emphasizing pragmatic, bipartisan approaches over ideological purity.[49][92] He ranked as the ninth most bipartisan member of Congress during his tenure, co-sponsoring legislation across party lines and participating in the Problem Solvers Caucus to advance compromise solutions.[49] On health care, Costello initially backed efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act but opposed the American Health Care Act in March 2017, citing risks to protections for pre-existing conditions and potential premium spikes, a stance that diverged from conservative demands for full repeal.[49][93] His positions on other issues further highlighted this moderation. Costello supported maintaining U.S. participation in the Paris climate accord and advocated for carbon dioxide mitigation measures, framing climate action as transcending partisanship in his suburban district.[49][53] He voted against a Republican bill to expand concealed-carry permits across state lines and endorsed enhanced background checks for gun purchases, positions that clashed with Second Amendment absolutism prevalent among conservatives.[49] Costello also publicly condemned President Trump's remarks following the August 2017 Charlottesville violence and policies separating migrant families at the border, breaking from party loyalty to Trump.[49] These stances elicited sharp backlash from conservative factions and the Republican base, who viewed him as insufficiently aligned with Trump's agenda. At a town hall, constituents labeled Costello a "coward" for his Charlottesville criticism of Trump, reflecting grassroots frustration with perceived disloyalty.[49] Major donors and fellow Energy and Commerce Committee Republicans complained after his health care vote, pressuring him to conform to orthodoxy.[49] Conservative advocacy groups like the Club for Growth scrutinized his record, highlighting deviations in spending and tax votes that earned him lower ratings compared to hardline peers.[94] Trump's broader attacks on moderate Republicans as electoral liabilities amplified this, with Costello publicly rebuking the president in November 2018 for mocking defeated GOP incumbents who had not embraced his style.[84][83] This internal party tension, compounded by redistricting and a shifting district, contributed to his decision to retire in March 2018 rather than face likely defeat or primary challenges from the right.[49][95]

Post-Congressional career

Lobbying and policy consulting

Following his departure from Congress in January 2019, Ryan Costello founded Ryan Costello Strategies, a governmental affairs firm focused on public policy advocacy, strategic communications, and lobbying services for corporate clients, trade associations, and coalitions.[22] The firm, based in Pennsylvania, leverages Costello's congressional experience on committees including Energy and Commerce and Transportation and Infrastructure to advise on legislative and regulatory matters.[22] Registered as a lobbying entity, it has reported revenues of $340,000 in 2020 and facilitated lobbying expenditures totaling $840,000 across seven clients in 2023.[96][97] Costello's lobbying practice emphasizes sectors such as technology and telecommunications, healthcare, energy and environmental policy, real estate, transportation, and taxation.[22][3] Clients represented by the firm include Alphabet Inc. (Google), Americans for Carbon Dividends, and Centerline Action, with disclosures showing activity on issues like carbon policy and digital services.[98] In 2023, the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association retained Costello to advocate against legislative threats to pharmacy benefit managers, including efforts to block drug pricing reforms.[99] By 2025, the firm had secured nine clients for $700,000 in lobbying income, continuing to represent entities like the aforementioned on federal policy.[100] In addition to his firm, Costello serves as a senior adviser at Capstone DC, a strategic advisory outfit, where he provides policy consulting on government relations, political intelligence, and advocacy strategies for Fortune 500 companies and trade groups.[11] This role draws on his legislative record to help clients navigate congressional and agency processes, particularly in energy, infrastructure, and healthcare domains.[11] Overall, these activities position Costello among former lawmakers transitioning to influence peddling, with OpenSecrets tracking him as part of the revolving door from Congress to K Street lobbying.[101]

Corporate board and advisory roles

Following his departure from Congress in January 2019, Ryan Costello joined the boards of several publicly traded companies, leveraging his legislative experience in energy, commerce, and technology policy. He holds Directorship Certification from the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD).[22] Costello served as Chairman of the Board of Directors at Phunware, Inc. (NASDAQ: PHUN), a mobile software and technology firm, from September 7, 2021, until his resignation effective December 31, 2023; his departure was not due to any disagreement with the company.[102][103] In September 2021, he was appointed to the board of Red White & Bloom Brands Inc. (CNSX: RWB), a multi-state cannabis operator, to provide expertise on federal policy and regulatory matters, but resigned effective June 17, 2022, for personal reasons.[104][105] Costello has also held positions on private company advisory boards, though specific firms and durations are not publicly detailed beyond general references to technology and energy sectors.[11] Since October 2, 2023, Costello has served as an independent director and Chair of the Board at Mawson Infrastructure Group Inc. (NASDAQ: MIGI), a digital infrastructure provider focused on bitcoin mining and data centers; he also chairs the Nominating and Governance Committee.[106][107][108]

Personal life

Family and residences

Costello is married to Christine Costello.[109][5] The couple has two children: a son, Ryan Jr., born around 2014, and a daughter, Caroline, born on July 24, 2017.[109] The family has resided primarily in West Chester, Pennsylvania, within Pennsylvania's 6th congressional district, during and after Costello's tenure in Congress.[15][110] Financial disclosures from 2013 list residential real estate assets in West Chester valued at $375,000 and additional property in East Vincent Township, Pennsylvania.[110] No public records indicate a change in primary residence as of 2025.[15]

Civic engagements

Costello volunteered with the Chester County Open Space Advisory Council, contributing to efforts on land preservation and recreational space planning in his home county.[5] Prior to and alongside his public service roles, as a real estate attorney, he donated legal expertise pro bono to unspecified local non-profit organizations supporting community needs in Chester County.[111] These activities reflect early commitments to regional environmental and civic priorities, though detailed records of ongoing post-Congressional involvement remain limited in public sources.[4]

Electoral history

[Electoral history - no content]

References

  1. COSTELLO, Ryan | US House of Representatives
  2. Representative Ryan A. Costello (1976 - Congress.gov
  3. Ryan Costello - Government Relations ~ Corporate Boards - LinkedIn
  4. Former Rep. Ryan Costello - R Pennsylvania, 6th, Retired - LegiStorm
  5. Ryan Costello's Biography - Vote Smart - Facts For All
  6. Costello: First UC Grad Elected to Congress | News - Ursinus College
  7. Chester County Leadership - Congressman Ryan Costello
  8. Ryan Costello set to take seat in 114th Congress - Daily Local
  9. Top Rated Phoenixville, PA Land Use & Zoning Attorney | Ryan ...
  10. Ryan Costello - Lawyer in Pottstown, PA - Avvo
  11. Ryan A. Costello - Capstone DC
  12. Costello resigns with Congress in sight - Daily Local
  13. Costello appointed Chester County Commissioner
  14. Chester County Commissioner sworn in, vows to prioritize budget ...
  15. Ryan Costello - Ballotpedia
  16. Costello Sworn in as Chester County Commissioner - Patch
  17. Ryan Costello | C-SPAN.org
  18. [PDF] Congressman Ryan Costello, Pennsylvania 6th District
  19. Ryan Costello | Climate One
  20. Chester County Commissioners approve 2014 budget with no tax ...
  21. Chester County Passes 2012 Budget | West Chester, PA Patch
  22. Ryan Costello Strategies
  23. [PDF] VISTA 2025 – Chester County's Economic Development Strategy
  24. Chester County to chart its economic future - Daily Local
  25. County officials reveal VISTA 2025 economic development plan ...
  26. Officials And Business Leaders In Chester Co. Team Up On 10-Year ...
  27. Election 2014 - Pennsylvania 6th District - Costello vs. Trivedi
  28. http://www.electionreturns.state.pa.us/Default.aspx?EID=41&ESTID=2&CID=0&OID=11&CDID=0&PID=0&DISTID=0&IsSpecial=0&PageRefID=1
  29. Ryan Costello wins in 6th Congressional District – The Mercury
  30. Costello beats Trivedi for 6th Congressional District seat - Daily Local
  31. Pennsylvania U.S. House 6th District Results: Ryan A. Costello Wins
  32. Election 2016 - Pennsylvania 6th District - Costello vs. Parrish
  33. 2016 Election Results for Pennsylvania -- RightDataUSA.com
  34. Rep. Ryan Costello will drop bid for reelection in Pennsylvania - CNN
  35. GOP Rep. Ryan Costello to retire, boosting Democratic hopes of ...
  36. Republican Rep. Ryan Costello isn't running for reelection. That's ...
  37. GOP congressman says he's leaving Congress because 'all I do is ...
  38. Republican Pennsylvania congressman bows out of re-election bid ...
  39. Rep. Ryan Costello of PA to retire, making midterms harder for GOP
  40. Rep. Ryan A. Costello | US Congress 2015-2016 | TrackBill
  41. Congressman Ryan Costello appointed to serve on two ...
  42. Excerpts of Our Conversation with Rep. Ryan Costello (R-PA)
  43. Ryan Costello named to Energy and Commerce Committee
  44. Rep. Ryan A. Costello | US Congress 2017-2018 | TrackBill
  45. 115th Congress Legislation - House Committee on Veterans' Affairs
  46. [PDF] U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES COMMITTEE ON ENERGY ...
  47. Dingell, Costello Introduce Bipartisan VAWA Health Legislation
  48. Rep. Ryan Costello's 2018 Report Card - GovTrack
  49. The Demise of the Moderate Republican | The New Yorker
  50. REP. RYAN COSTELLO AND PROBLEM SOLVERS CAUCUS ...
  51. Costello speaks out: 'I'm a reasonable Republican' – Daily Local
  52. Costello gets challenge from the right in GOP - Daily Local News
  53. Republican in 'bellwether' race touts CO2 mitigation - E&E News
  54. Republicans on Climate Solutions Caucus urge Trump to remain in ...
  55. Climate Solutions Caucus making its mark in 115th Congress
  56. Five Down: Climate Solutions Caucus to lose another Republican
  57. Costello, Hill head up bipartisan congressional workforce caucuses
  58. Titus and Costello Announce Public Works and Infrastructure Caucus
  59. Lawmakers Form Bipartisan Caucus to Protect PSLF - nasfaa
  60. How Each House Member Voted on the Tax Bill - The New York Times
  61. GOP Reps in region split as tax bill passes - WHYY
  62. Protests rage as Meehan, Costello vote for GOP tax plan
  63. Rep. Costello on Individual Mandate and Deficit - Bloomberg.com
  64. Costello votes for budget, but fumes over Trump tweets – Daily Local
  65. Republican Congressman Ryan Costello says some Trump cuts ...
  66. Rep. Ryan Costello - Scorecard 115: 33% - Heritage Action
  67. House Passes Hurricane Aid and Raises Debt Ceiling
  68. Advanced Energy Leadership Award Goes to U.S. Rep. Costello
  69. The Rundown: U.S. Rep. Ryan Costello speaks ... - Reading Eagle
  70. WRI encouraged by Republican resolution on combating climate ...
  71. Ryan Costello's Voting Records - Vote Smart - Facts For All
  72. Reps. Fitzpatrick, Boyle, Community Leaders Call for Federal ...
  73. RELEASE: Rep. Khanna introduces bipartisan legislation to study ...
  74. Rep. Costello Hopes House Facebook Hearings Will Dig Deeper
  75. Innovate, Don't Litigate, to Solve the Climate Crisis | RealClearEnergy
  76. Ryan Costello on the Issues - OnTheIssues.org
  77. Rep. Costello explains his yes vote on tax plan - Daily Local
  78. The 20 Republicans who voted against the Obamacare repeal bill
  79. 4 Pennsylvania GOP congressmen vote against House bill to ...
  80. Ryan Costello avoids Trump, targets Mike Parrish
  81. Pennsylvania lawmakers: Trump rhetoric at least partly to blame for ...
  82. Costello: Trump mocking losers like 'dancing on somebody's grave'
  83. Retiring GOP lawmaker rips Trump over midterm criticism - The Hill
  84. Retiring Rep. Ryan Costello Weighs In On Trump's Criticisms ... - NPR
  85. Progressive group files ethics complaint against U.S. Rep. Ryan ...
  86. ADLF Files Ethics Complaint against 23 House Republicans ...
  87. Costello, Meehan buck House GOP majority, oppose gutting ethics ...
  88. Democrats target Ryan Costello on Twitter - Lebanon Daily News
  89. Mike Parrish attacks Ryan Costello for supporting Trump
  90. Republican won't use hacked docs against opponent - The Hill
  91. Conflicting accounts cloud incident at Costello home
  92. Costello, others: Don't shut it down – Daily Local
  93. Moderate Republican Costello feels health care pressure in town hall
  94. Ryan Costello - Scorecard Legislator - Club for Growth
  95. Retiring GOP Congressman Ryan Costello talks Donald Trump's ...
  96. Ryan Costello, former Pa. Republican congressman, eyes 2022 ...
  97. Ryan Costello Strategies Lobbying Profile • OpenSecrets
  98. Ryan Costello Strategies Lobbyists - Lobbying - OpenSecrets
  99. PBMs group hires Costello - POLITICO
  100. Lobbying Firm Profile: Ryan Costello Strategies - OpenSecrets
  101. Ryan Costello Lobbying Profile - Lobbyists - OpenSecrets
  102. Phunware Appoints Former Congressman and Senior Technology ...
  103. Phunware (PHUN) Announces Resignation of Ryan Costello from ...
  104. Red White & Bloom Brands to Appoint Ryan Costello to the Board of ...
  105. Red White & Bloom Brands Announces Resignation of Ryan ...
  106. Director Appointment Letter between Mawson Infrastructure Group
  107. Ryan Costello - Mawson Infrastructure Group
  108. Mawson Infrastructure Group Inc. Reports Preliminary Financial ...
  109. Rep. Costello Welcomes Second Child - Roll Call
  110. Ryan Costello- Net Worth - Personal Finances - OpenSecrets
  111. Facts For All - Vote Smart
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