U.S. House, California 50th Congressional District · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in California's 50th Congressional District?
Scott Peters has the strongest record in California's 50th Congressional District. Scott Peters scores 75 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026. Scott Peters's highest marks are relevant experience and roots in the constituency. Steve Cohen (6 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Republican
Steve Cohen
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 6 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 55
- Performance
- NR
Democratic · incumbent
Strongest record
Scott Peters
75 / 100
Public evidence on 13 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 56
- Qualifications
- 80
- Performance
- 88
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Steve Cohen
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Scott Peters
- On the record2025-11-18
Voted Yea on H.Res. 878, disapproving the conduct of Rep. Jesus 'Chuy' Garcia, when Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries voted Nay.
Source: House Clerk Roll Call 292, 2025
- On the record2021-09-15
Voted in the House Energy and Commerce Committee against a proposal letting Medicare negotiate drug prices, one of three Democrats whose votes left it short in that markup.
- Credit2024
Primary sponsor of 12 enacted bills, most recently H.R. 8054 (SSRA of 2024) and the Small Business Scorecard Enhancements Act of 2022.
- Credit2020
Primary sponsor of H.R. 2398, the Veteran HOUSE Act of 2020, enacted into law.
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Steve Cohen. No public record found.
Scott Peters. His 2025 annual financial disclosure was filed with the House Clerk on Aug. 12, 2026, after an extension, and periodic transaction reports are on file. No House Ethics Committee matter or FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: House Clerk financial disclosure, Filing ID 10076386, House Committee on Ethics site search, FEC administrative fines search
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Steve Cohen. No public record found.
Scott Peters. In September 2021 he was one of three committee Democrats who voted against Medicare drug price negotiation in the Energy and Commerce markup. In 2025 and 2026 he split from his leadership on several passage votes.
Sources: KVIA (CNN wire), Sept. 2021, OPB, Sept. 16, 2021, House Clerk Roll Call 12, 2026, Affordable HOMES Act
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Steve Cohen. No public record found.
Scott Peters. No public record found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Steve Cohen. Worked 50 years in television newsroom management, including 20 years as KUSI-TV news director in San Diego. No formal conduct finding found.
Source: Times of San Diego, May 17, 2026
Scott Peters. Served two terms on the San Diego City Council, chaired the Port District and has served in the House since 2013. No censure, reprimand or House Ethics finding found.
Sources: Office site, About, House Committee on Ethics site search
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Steve Cohen. No public record found.
Scott Peters. Has held sworn office since 2013 and voted Nay on both January 6, 2021 objections to certified electors. No misuse-of-office finding found.
Sources: House Clerk Roll Call 10, 2021, House Clerk Roll Call 11, 2021
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Steve Cohen. Managed TV newsrooms in New York, Detroit, Philadelphia and Los Angeles and was KUSI-TV news director for 20 years. Has not held public office.
Source: Times of San Diego, May 17, 2026
Scott Peters. In the U.S. House since January 2013, now in his seventh term, after the San Diego City Council and chairing the Unified Port of San Diego.
Sources: GovTrack, missed votes, Office site, About
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Steve Cohen. His campaign site states positions on affordability, health care, seniors and fiscal accountability in general terms.
Source: Campaign site, home page
Scott Peters. Sits on the House Energy and Commerce Committee (three subcommittees) and the Budget Committee; co-chairs the Bipartisan Fiscal Forum. Holds no committee chair or ranking post.
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Steve Cohen. Publishes plain-language issue statements on his campaign site. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: Campaign site, home page, Ballotpedia, Steve Cohen (California)
Scott Peters. Offers a newsletter and text alerts, has held town halls and publishes issue pages. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: Office site, home page, Office newsletter, You're Invited: Town Hall, Ballotpedia, Scott Peters
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Steve Cohen. Ran the KUSI-TV newsroom in San Diego for 20 years and lists a San Diego address with the FEC. No itemized contributions are reported.
Sources: Times of San Diego, May 17, 2026, FEC contribution totals by state
Scott Peters. Lives in La Jolla, in the district, and has held San Diego office since his City Council service. FEC by-state totals show about 67 percent of itemized individual contributions from California.
Sources: Office site, About, FEC contribution totals by state
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Steve Cohen. Ran newsrooms as a TV news director for decades, including 20 years at KUSI. His committee registered with the FEC in July 2026 and no financial report is posted yet.
Sources: Times of San Diego, May 17, 2026, FEC candidate page
Scott Peters. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine record found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Steve Cohen. No public record found.
Scott Peters. Legislative Effectiveness Score of 0.829 in the 118th Congress against a benchmark of 0.543, exceeding expectations (also exceeded in the 117th). Primary sponsor of 12 enacted bills.
Sources: Center for Effective Lawmaking House dataset, 93rd to 118th Congress, GovTrack, enacted legislation
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Steve Cohen. No public record found.
Scott Peters. Missed 132 of 7,608 roll call votes, 1.7 percent, from January 2013 to September 2026.
Source: GovTrack, missed votes
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Steve Cohen. No public record found.
Scott Peters. Lists district offices in San Diego and San Marcos and help with federal agencies, and publishes a casework total of $25,010,446.87 returned to constituents since 2013.
Sources: Office site, Office Locations, Office site, home page
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Steve Cohen. No public record found.
Scott Peters. Lugar Center Bipartisan Index score of 0.13178 in the latest posted House scores (118th Congress, 2023), ranked 105 of 436, in the top quarter.
Source: Lugar Center and McCourt School Bipartisan Index, House Scores
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Steve Cohen. No public record found.
Scott Peters. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 9, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in California's 50th Congressional District?
Scott Peters has the strongest record in California's 50th Congressional District. Scott Peters scores 75 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026. Scott Peters's highest marks are relevant experience and roots in the constituency. Steve Cohen (6 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in California's 50th Congressional District in 2026?
Steve Cohen (Republican), Scott Peters (Democratic, incumbent). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Steve Cohen a good candidate for Congress?
Steve Cohen has public evidence on 6 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Scott Peters a good candidate for Congress?
Scott Peters scores 75 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 13 of 15 criteria: character 56 of 100, qualifications 80 of 100, performance 88 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every California race scored, the trailing candidate's path to victory, and the California 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.