Steve Cohen reflects on congressional run in California’s 50th District

Steve Cohen, a longtime television news director in San Diego, reflected on his recent campaign for Congress in California’s 50th District, according to Times of San Diego.

Cohen spent 50 years in TV newsroom executive roles, including 20 years as news director at KUSI-TV in San Diego. At 79 years old, he accepted an invitation from local Republican officials to run for Congress in March 2026.

He described himself as not a politician but someone who has spent his career covering politicians and holding them accountable. Cohen said he wanted to engage in dialogue about issues and disrupt the status quo.

In the June 2 primary election, Cohen was the top Republican vote-getter and earned the chance to run against the longtime Democratic incumbent Scott Peters, who has served seven terms. The district has about 475,000 voters, with Democrats outnumbering Republicans nearly 2 to 1.

Cohen said he still has energy and strong opinions on how to change the country, despite his age and the challenging political landscape in the district.