Who's In the Race

Rep. Scott Peters (D-CA) faces Republican Steve Cohen in the Nov. 3 general election in California's 50th District. California's voter-nominated primary advances the top two vote-getters, regardless of party, to the general election. A new congressional map, approved under Proposition 50, changed district boundaries. ​

Peters has represented California since 2013. He worked for 15 years as an environmental lawyer before serving on the San Diego City Council, where he became its first council president. In the June 2 top-two primary, Peters took about 48 percent of the vote.

Cohen spent about five decades as a broadcast journalist and served as news director at KUSI-TV for more than 20 years. Cohen finished second in the primary with about 40 percent, advancing past Democrat Aishwarya Mitra, who took about 8 percent.

What They Stand For

Peters has proposed that every American deserves access to quality, affordable health care and that the country should aspire to universal health insurance coverage, according to his campaign website. He's also supported:

  • Action to address climate change, including responses to rising sea levels, extreme weather and drought,
  • Protecting Social Security and Medicare as commitments between generations; and
  • Expanding housing supply and addressing homelessness.

Cohen has proposed defending Social Security and Medicare from cuts and protecting retirement security, according to his campaign website. He has also called for:

  • Lowering prescription-drug prices and health-care costs,
  • Greater fiscal transparency and accountability; and
  • Protecting retirement security.

Race Outlook: Ratings and Betting Markets

The Cook Political Report rated the race Solid Democratic as of Oct. 9; Sabato's Crystal Ball rated it Solid Democratic as of Oct. 11; and Inside Elections rated it Solid Democratic as of Oct. 2.

On Kalshi, traders gave Democrats, whose nominee is Peters, a 95.66 percent chance of winning as of Oct. 13.

Peters won the district with about 63 percent in 2022 and about 64 percent in 2024. Statewide, Democrats won 40 of California's 52 U.S. House seats in 2022 and 43 in 2024. In the 2024 presidential race, Democrat Kamala Harris carried California with about 58 percent of the vote.

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