Key Takeaways
- • Steve Cohen, 79, a Republican and former KUSI news director, is running for Congress in California's 50th Congressional District covering San Diego and inland North County, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune's candidate Q&A.
- • Cohen identifies job growth, affordable middle-class housing, and environmental protection as the district's top three issues, and calls for a balanced budget, Social Security preservation, and a defense budget above 3.5% of GDP.
- • Cohen backs closing the border, eliminating sanctuary cities and states, and detaining and deporting criminal felons after due process, and he supports military action against Iran that he says was required to end its nuclear capability.
- • Cohen opposes climate-focused energy policy, calling for expanded fracking, natural gas, and refineries, and he argues the district's energy costs can be lowered through an all-of-the-above approach.
- • Cohen did not respond to questions on congressional stock trading restrictions or congressional oversight of the executive branch, and the publisher's context notes he faces a steep uphill battle against incumbent Rep. Scott Peters.
Summary
Steve Cohen, 79, a Republican and former KUSI news director who lives in Pacific Beach, is running for Congress in California's 50th Congressional District, which covers San Diego and inland North County. In a Q&A with the San Diego Union-Tribune, Cohen said he is running because Congress is broken and needs "experienced bridge builders" focused on the future, citing two decades of public-affairs analysis at KUSI. Publisher context describes the race as a steep uphill battle against incumbent Rep. Scott Peters in a district where Democrats far outnumber Republicans, and notes Cohen announced his candidacy in a public notice and has said he plans to challenge Peters in the 2026 election.
On district priorities, Cohen named expanding job growth, constructing affordable housing for the middle class, and protecting the environment and quality of life. For his first term, he listed moving toward a balanced budget, saving Social Security, and increasing the defense budget above 3.5% of GDP. He cited a macro outlook of 2.5% GDP growth, 4% unemployment, and strong consumer demand, while calling inflation at 3.4% too high relative to a 2% goal. He argued the ultimate fix for cost-of-living pressures is a balanced budget to offset a $40 trillion national debt and reduce $1.2 trillion in annual interest payments.
On immigration, Cohen said he supports closing the borders, actively pursuing illegal immigrants, detaining and deporting criminal felons after due process, and eliminating sanctuary cities and states. On Iran, he described the military campaign as necessary to remove a bad actor internationally and end its nuclear capability, acknowledged temporary gas and diesel price increases, and said economic sanctions could resolve the issue with patience. On energy and climate, he criticized climate-change policy, citing the loss of refineries, seasonal gasoline blends, and EV charging programs, and called for fracking, natural gas, refineries, and "all energy" rather than solar and wind alone.
On democracy, Cohen said the internal threat is a declining belief in democratic institutions and criticized his opponent for not voting for H.Res. 1490 condemning socialism. He acknowledged a low Gallup rating of belief in institutions, citing 14% among Republicans and 5% among Democrats, and said Congress should answer to districts rather than parties or the president. Cohen did not respond to questions on congressional stock trading restrictions, Congress's oversight role, or what his party's priorities would be in or out of the majority.
On district priorities, Cohen named expanding job growth, constructing affordable housing for the middle class, and protecting the environment and quality of life. For his first term, he listed moving toward a balanced budget, saving Social Security, and increasing the defense budget above 3.5% of GDP. He cited a macro outlook of 2.5% GDP growth, 4% unemployment, and strong consumer demand, while calling inflation at 3.4% too high relative to a 2% goal. He argued the ultimate fix for cost-of-living pressures is a balanced budget to offset a $40 trillion national debt and reduce $1.2 trillion in annual interest payments.
On immigration, Cohen said he supports closing the borders, actively pursuing illegal immigrants, detaining and deporting criminal felons after due process, and eliminating sanctuary cities and states. On Iran, he described the military campaign as necessary to remove a bad actor internationally and end its nuclear capability, acknowledged temporary gas and diesel price increases, and said economic sanctions could resolve the issue with patience. On energy and climate, he criticized climate-change policy, citing the loss of refineries, seasonal gasoline blends, and EV charging programs, and called for fracking, natural gas, refineries, and "all energy" rather than solar and wind alone.
On democracy, Cohen said the internal threat is a declining belief in democratic institutions and criticized his opponent for not voting for H.Res. 1490 condemning socialism. He acknowledged a low Gallup rating of belief in institutions, citing 14% among Republicans and 5% among Democrats, and said Congress should answer to districts rather than parties or the president. Cohen did not respond to questions on congressional stock trading restrictions, Congress's oversight role, or what his party's priorities would be in or out of the majority.
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