Key Takeaways
- • Steve Cohen, 79-year-old former KUSI-TV news director with 50 years in television journalism, is running for Congress as a Republican candidate against incumbent Democrat Scott Peters in San Diego.
- • Cohen's departure from KUSI occurred in October 2023 following Nexstar Media Group's acquisition of McKinnon Broadcasting Co., ending his 20-year tenure as the station's news director.
- • Prior to his San Diego role, Cohen held executive newsroom positions across major U.S. media markets including New York, Detroit, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles, beginning his career as a news director in Peoria, Illinois in 1973.
- • Cohen's campaign platform emphasizes Social Security protection, senior healthcare rights, fiscal accountability, border security, federal budget balance, and housing affordability for working families in San Diego.
- • Since leaving KUSI three years ago, Cohen has worked as a television consultant, including advising Christopher Ruddy, majority owner of Newsmax Media and Newsmax TV, before pursuing the congressional race.
Summary
Steve Cohen, a veteran broadcast executive with five decades of experience covering and managing political coverage in television news, announced his candidacy for Congress in San Diego's race against incumbent Scott Peters. The 79-year-old former news director at KUSI-TV made the decision to enter politics after receiving outreach from the Republican Party of San Diego County in March 2026, according to Times of San Diego. Cohen described the party's recruitment approach, stating they were seeking a candidate they considered "substantial" to challenge Peters.
Cohen's media career spans from 1973 to 2023, during which he held newsroom executive positions across some of the nation's largest television markets. His tenure included leadership roles in New York, Detroit, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, as well as stations in Arkansas, Utah, and Buffalo. His 20-year run at KUSI ended in October 2023 when Nexstar Media Group completed its acquisition of McKinnon Broadcasting Co., which owned the San Diego station. At the time of his departure, Cohen was in his 50th year working in television news.
Following his exit from KUSI, Cohen transitioned into television consulting and advised Christopher Ruddy, the majority owner of Newsmax Media and Newsmax TV. However, he simultaneously explored political opportunities, including initially considering a run for San Diego mayor before ultimately deciding against that race. When the Republican Party of San Diego County contacted him about the congressional race, Cohen accepted the opportunity to campaign for elected office.
Cohen's stated campaign priorities center on senior policy issues and fiscal matters, reflecting both his age demographic and his decades covering policy as a journalist. He emphasized protecting Social Security, ensuring healthcare systems that serve patient interests, implementing fiscal accountability, strengthening border security, achieving a balanced federal budget, and making San Diego more affordable for working families. Cohen characterized his decision to run at 79 as a choice to remain actively engaged rather than pursue retirement, stating he would "prefer to be in the game" and is "not afraid of swimming in the deep end."
Cohen's media career spans from 1973 to 2023, during which he held newsroom executive positions across some of the nation's largest television markets. His tenure included leadership roles in New York, Detroit, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, as well as stations in Arkansas, Utah, and Buffalo. His 20-year run at KUSI ended in October 2023 when Nexstar Media Group completed its acquisition of McKinnon Broadcasting Co., which owned the San Diego station. At the time of his departure, Cohen was in his 50th year working in television news.
Following his exit from KUSI, Cohen transitioned into television consulting and advised Christopher Ruddy, the majority owner of Newsmax Media and Newsmax TV. However, he simultaneously explored political opportunities, including initially considering a run for San Diego mayor before ultimately deciding against that race. When the Republican Party of San Diego County contacted him about the congressional race, Cohen accepted the opportunity to campaign for elected office.
Cohen's stated campaign priorities center on senior policy issues and fiscal matters, reflecting both his age demographic and his decades covering policy as a journalist. He emphasized protecting Social Security, ensuring healthcare systems that serve patient interests, implementing fiscal accountability, strengthening border security, achieving a balanced federal budget, and making San Diego more affordable for working families. Cohen characterized his decision to run at 79 as a choice to remain actively engaged rather than pursue retirement, stating he would "prefer to be in the game" and is "not afraid of swimming in the deep end."
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