Skip to main content
The Full Record
Menu

U.S. House · California's 50th District

Coastal and central San Diego, including the City of San Diego and nearby communities.

General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

RESULT · UNOFFICIAL UNTIL CERTIFIED

Scott Peters, projected winner

CandidateVotesShare
Scott Peters137,70161.8%
Steve Cohen85,00538.2%

About 68% of the expected vote counted. As of November 9. Winners take office next year. Counts can change until states certify. NBC News ↗

Sources re-checked September 25, 2026 · How we research

  • The district's boundaries changed as a result of California Proposition 50, a mid-decade congressional redistricting measure voters approved on November 4, 2025.[1]
  • Incumbent Scott Peters and Steve Cohen advanced from the June 2, 2026 top-two primary. Peters won 48.1% of the primary vote (102,057 votes) and Cohen won 39.8% (84,340 votes); other candidates included Aishwarya Mitra, Tim Arnous, Joseph Shea and Lucinda Jahn.[1]

On the November 3 ballot · 2 candidates

Scott PetersDINCUMBENTPROJECTED WINNERU.S. Representative, CA-50 (since 2013)Full profile →Steve CohenRFull profile →

Issue evidence — side by side

Recorded votes, documented positions and candidates’ own words are shown with sources. “In their own words” quotes a candidate on the topic without inferring a stance. Votes describe specific bills or motions; they do not establish overall support or opposition to a broad issue. A dash means our research has no evidence on that topic, not that the candidate has no position.

Protect legal access to abortion

  • Scott Peters
    Recorded votes[38][39][40]

    Voted yes on Women's Health Protection Act of 2021 (H.R. 3755, 2021-09-24). Voted yes on Women's Health Protection Act of 2022 (H.R. 8296, 2022-07-15). Voted no on Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (H.R. 36, 2017-10-03), which would have banned most abortions after 20 weeks.

  • Steve Cohen
    —

Stricter gun laws

  • Scott Peters
    Recorded votes[33][34][35][36]

    Voted yes on Bipartisan Background Checks Act (H.R. 8, 2019-02-27), which would have required background checks on most private gun sales. Voted yes on Assault Weapons Ban of 2022 (H.R. 1808, 2022-07-29), which would have banned the sale of many semiautomatic assault weapons. Voted yes on Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (S. 2938, 2022-06-24), which expanded background checks for buyers under 21 and funded state red-flag programs. Voted no on Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act (H.R. 38, 2017-12-06), which would have required states to honor other states' concealed-carry permits.

  • Steve Cohen
    —

Expand immigration enforcement and deportations

  • Scott Peters
    Recorded votes[17][18][19][20][21][22][23]

    Voted no on Laken Riley Act (S. 5, 2025-01-22). Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which funded expanded immigration enforcement, detention and border operations. Voted no on Secure the Border Act of 2023 (H.R. 2, 2023-05-11). Voted yes on American Dream and Promise Act of 2019 (H.R. 6, 2019-06-04; 2021-03-18).

  • Steve Cohen
    —

Loosen zoning rules to build more housing

  • Scott Peters
    Supports[8]

    Says San Diego needs to build more housing for people of all income levels and is working to incentivize more housing development.

  • Steve Cohen
    —

Raise taxes on high earners or corporations

  • Scott Peters
    Recorded votes[18][19][20][29][28]

    Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03; 2017-12-20), which made the 2017 individual tax rates, including the 37% top rate, permanent. Voted yes on Inflation Reduction Act (H.R. 5376, 2022-08-12), which added a 15% minimum tax on large corporations and a stock-buyback excise tax.

  • Steve Cohen
    —

Expand public health coverage

  • Scott Peters
    Recorded votes[18][19][20][25][26]

    Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which reduced federal Medicaid spending and added Medicaid work requirements. Voted yes on Breaking the Gridlock Act (H.R. 1834, 2026-01-08), which extended enhanced ACA premium subsidies. Voted no on American Health Care Act (H.R. 1628, 2017-05-04), which would have capped federal Medicaid funding and ended enhanced funding for the Medicaid expansion.

  • Steve Cohen
    —

Faster transition away from fossil fuels

  • Scott Peters
    Recorded votes[18][19][20][27][28]

    Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which phased out Inflation Reduction Act clean-energy tax credits. Voted yes on Build Back Better Act (H.R. 5376, 2021-11-19; 2022-08-12), which would have funded clean-energy tax credits.

  • Steve Cohen
    —

Raise the minimum wage

  • Scott Peters
    Recorded votes[37]

    Voted yes on Raise the Wage Act (H.R. 582, 2019-07-18).

  • Steve Cohen
    —

Broad tariffs on imported goods

  • Scott Peters
    Recorded votes[32]

    Voted yes on Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada (H.J. Res. 72, 2026-02-11), which disapproved the tariffs on Canadian imports.

  • Steve Cohen
    —

Universal, publicly funded child care

  • Scott Peters
    Recorded votes[27]

    Voted yes on Build Back Better Act (H.R. 5376, 2021-11-19), which would have funded universal pre-K and child-care subsidies.

  • Steve Cohen
    —

Require documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote

  • Scott Peters
    Recorded votes[24]

    Voted no on SAVE Act (H.R. 22, 2025-04-10).

  • Steve Cohen
    —

Require Congress to approve U.S. military action abroad

  • Scott Peters
    Recorded votes[30][31]

    Voted yes on War Powers Resolution on Venezuela (H. Con. Res. 64, 2025-12-17), which would have directed the removal of U.S. forces from hostilities against Venezuela absent congressional authorization. Voted yes on War Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilities (H. Con. Res. 86, 2026-06-03), which directed the removal of U.S. forces from hostilities against Iran absent congressional authorization.

  • Steve Cohen
    —

Research notes & limits

Federal key floor votes and FEC finance totals are added separately by script for sitting members of Congress. Biography: no campaign website, education or career details were found for Steve Cohen beyond KPBS's one-line description; Ballotpedia has no biography for him.

Sources · 44

Researched 2026-09-25. Green citations are official government records.

  1. 1.California's 50th Congressional District election, 2026 · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  2. 2.Scott Peters · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  3. 3.Reproductive Healthcare · Office of Rep. Scott Peters · 2026-09-25 Official record
  4. 4.Gun Reform · Office of Rep. Scott Peters · 2026-09-25 Official record
  5. 5.Climate, Energy & Environment · Office of Rep. Scott Peters · 2026-09-25 Official record
  6. 6.Health Care · Office of Rep. Scott Peters · 2026-09-25 Official record
  7. 7.Jobs and Economy · Office of Rep. Scott Peters · 2026-09-25 Official record
  8. 8.Housing and Homelessness · Office of Rep. Scott Peters · 2026-09-25 Official record
  9. 9.Representatives Peters, San Diego Business Leaders Highlight Harm of Tariffs on San Diego Businesses and Consumers · Rep. Scott Peters (official site) Official record
  10. 10.Rep. Peters, Hospital, Community Health Center Staff Call on Senate to Extend ACA Premium Tax Credits · Rep. Scott Peters (official site) Official record
  11. 11.MarketInk: After 50 years of covering politicians, ex-KUSI news director Steve Cohen is running for Congress · Times of San Diego News report
  12. 12.Scott Peters · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  13. 13.About | Congressman Scott Peters · Office of Rep. Scott Peters · 2026-10-21 Official record
  14. 14.California's 50th District election results 2026 · NBC News News report
  15. 15.H.Con.Res. 38 (Directing the President pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution to remove United States Armed Forces from unauthorized hostilities in the Islamic Republic of Iran.) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
  16. 16.H.Con.Res. 40 (Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran.) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
  17. 17.Roll call: Laken Riley Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-01-22 Official record
  18. 18.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-05-22 Official record
  19. 19.H.R. 1 (119th Congress) — One Big Beautiful Bill Act: text and summary · Congress.gov Official record
  20. 20.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-07-03 Official record
  21. 21.Roll call: Secure the Border Act of 2023 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2023-05-11 Official record
  22. 22.Roll call: American Dream and Promise Act of 2019 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2019-06-04 Official record
  23. 23.Roll call: American Dream and Promise Act of 2021 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2021-03-18 Official record
  24. 24.Roll call: SAVE Act — proof-of-citizenship voter registration · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-04-10 Official record
  25. 25.Roll call: Breaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extension · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-01-08 Official record
  26. 26.Roll call: American Health Care Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2017-05-04 Official record
  27. 27.Roll call: Build Back Better Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2021-11-19 Official record
  28. 28.Roll call: Inflation Reduction Act — final House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2022-08-12 Official record
  29. 29.Roll call: Tax Cuts and Jobs Act — final House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2017-12-20 Official record
  30. 30.Roll call: War Powers Resolution on Venezuela · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-12-17 Official record
  31. 31.Roll call: War Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilities · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-06-03 Official record
  32. 32.Roll call: Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-02-11 Official record
  33. 33.Roll call: Bipartisan Background Checks Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2019-02-27 Official record
  34. 34.Roll call: Assault Weapons Ban of 2022 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2022-07-29 Official record
  35. 35.Roll call: Bipartisan Safer Communities Act — final House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2022-06-24 Official record
  36. 36.Roll call: Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2017-12-06 Official record
  37. 37.Roll call: Raise the Wage Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2019-07-18 Official record
  38. 38.Roll call: Women's Health Protection Act of 2021 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2021-09-24 Official record
  39. 39.Roll call: Women's Health Protection Act of 2022 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2022-07-15 Official record
  40. 40.Roll call: Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2017-10-03 Official record
  41. 41.Steve Cohen (California) · Ballotpedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
  42. 42.What are the important issues in District 50? · KPBS · 2026-10-21 News report
  43. 43.After 50 years of covering politicians, ex-KUSI news director Steve Cohen is running for Congress · Times of San Diego · 2026-05-17 News report
  44. 44.U.S. House · California's 50th District results 2026 · NBC News News report