# John M. Costello

John Martin Costello (January 15, 1903 – August 28, 1976) was an American lawyer and politician who served five terms as a U.S. Representative from California from 1935 to 1945.

## Early life and career

Born in Los Angeles, California, the son of Irish immigrants, Costello attended the public schools. He was graduated from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, California, in 1924. He was admitted to the bar the same year and commenced practice in Los Angeles. He was a teacher in Los Angeles secondary schools in 1924 and 1925.

## Political career

He was an unsuccessful candidate for election to the Seventy-third Congress in 1932.

### Congress

Costello was elected as a Democrat to the Seventy-fourth and to the four succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1935 – January 3, 1945). He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1944 to the Seventy-ninth Congress.

## Later career

He served as general counsel and manager of the Washington office of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce from 1945 to 1947. He engaged in the practice of law in Washington, D.C. from 1947 to 1976.

## Death

He died in Las Vegas, Nevada, August 28, 1976. He was interred in Calvary Cemetery, Los Angeles, California.

## Electoral history

1932 United States House of Representatives elections in California :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | William I. Traeger | 67,390 | 52.8 |
| | Democratic | John M. Costello | 57,518 | 45.1 |
| | No party | Errol Shour (write-in) | 2,721 | 2.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 127,663 | 100.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
| | Republican win (new seat) | Republican win (new seat) | Republican win (new seat) | Republican win (new seat) |
1934 United States House of Representatives elections in California :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | John M. Costello | 67,247 | 50.5 |
| | Republican | William I. Traeger (Incumbent) | 65,858 | 49.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 133,161 | 100.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |
1936 United States House of Representatives elections in California :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | John M. Costello (Incumbent) | 99,107 | 69.0 |
| | Republican | Ernest Sawyer | 44,559 | 31.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 143,718 | 100.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |
1938 United States House of Representatives elections in California :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | John M. Costello (Incumbent) | 83,086 | 60.1 |
| | Republican | O. D. Thomas | 51,483 | 37.3 |
| | Communist | Emil Freed | 2,951 | 2.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 138,132 | 100.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |
1940 United States House of Representatives elections in California :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | John M. Costello (Incumbent) | 94,435 | 56.2 |
| | Republican | Norris Nelson | 71,667 | 42.6 |
| | Communist | Emil Freed | 2,004 | 1.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 168,155 | 100.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |
1942 United States House of Representatives elections in California :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | John M. Costello (Incumbent) | 88,798 | 86.1 |
| | Prohibition | B. Tarkington Dowden | 10,185 | 9.9 |
| | Communist | Philip Gardner | 3,989 | 3.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 103,094 | 100.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |