Steve Cohen
Candidate for U.S. Representative, Congressional District 50
Steve Cohen is a Republican running for U.S. House. His race is California's 50th District. He challenges Democratic incumbent Scott Peters. The vote is November 2026. Cohen spent about five decades in TV news. He began as a news director in Peoria, Illinois. That was in 1973. He later ran newsrooms in New York, Detroit, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles. He was News Director at KUSI-TV in San Diego. He held that job for about 20 years. He left in 2023. That was after Nexstar Media Group bought the station. He then worked as a TV consultant. His clients included Newsmax's Christopher Ruddy. He has never held elected office. Local reports say the county GOP recruited him. That happened in March 2026. The party wanted a challenger for Peters. Cohen's platform covers cost of living and housing. It also covers health care and border security. He also backs Social Security and Medicare. He advanced from the June 2026 primary. Home: San Diego, California. Occupation: former TV news director, at KUSI-TV, San Diego; now a media consultant. Prior office: none. This is his first run for office. He challenges incumbent Scott Peters, a Democrat.
On the issues
- Economy & Jobs
Supports expanding housing supply and cracking down on what he calls corporate price manipulation to address affordability, rather than a specific jobs/wages or labor platform.
Source → - Taxes & Cost of Living
Emphasizes reducing cost-of-living pressures (housing, groceries) and pledges fiscal transparency in the federal budget, opposing wasteful earmarks, without stating a specific tax-rate position.
Source → - Health & Health Care
Supports lowering prescription drug prices, protecting coverage for pre-existing conditions, and holding insurance companies accountable, framed as making healthcare work for patients rather than insurers.
Source → - Immigration & Border
Lists border security as one of his campaign priorities, though without detailed policy specifics on enforcement, legal immigration, DACA, or asylum.
Source → - Government, Elections & Democracy
Favors greater federal budget/spending transparency and opposes what he calls wasteful earmarks, though this is framed around spending rather than campaign finance or election-process reform.
Source →
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