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Photograph of Scott H. Peters

Scott H. Peters

U.S. House · CA-50 · Democrats · since 2025

also

Candidate for U.S. House · CA-50

Target Scott

Biography

Overview

Scott Peters is a Democrat representing California's 50th congressional district since 2023 (previously the 52nd from 2013-2023). A lawyer by training with experience as an EPA economist, he served on the San Diego City Council from 2000-2008, including as president of the city council, and as a commissioner for the Unified Port of San Diego before his election to Congress.

Career

Peters sponsored the Super Pollutants Act addressing climate-related greenhouse gases and co-sponsored the BREATHE Act and Safe Drinking Water Act Improved Compliance Awareness Act. He played a leading role in blocking a drug price negotiation bill in 2021 and opposed allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices. He led efforts to upgrade the San Ysidro Port of Entry and supported infrastructure improvements at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. He was one of nine Democratic co-sponsors of an unsuccessful proposal to delay PPACA penalties.

Prior political experience

Peters was first elected to Congress in 2012, defeating incumbent Republican Brian Bilbray 51%-49% in a very close race. He was reelected in 2014 with 51.59% over Carl DeMaio, in 2016 with 56.5% over Denise Gitsham, in 2018 with 63.8% over Omar Qudrat, in 2020 with 61.6% over Jim DeBello, and in 2022 with 62.8% over Corey Gustafson after his district changed to the 50th. Before Congress, he ran for San Diego City Council District 1 in 2000, finishing second in the primary with 24% and defeating Linda Davis 53%-47% in the general election. He was reelected to city council in 2004 with a first-place primary finish of 48% and a general election victory of 55%-45% over Phil Thalheimer.

Biographical material adapted from the Wikipedia article (retrieved April 29, 2026), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Ideology

Liberal–Conservative (DW-NOMINATE dim 1)

Liberal
Conservative
119th Congress-0.193

Secondary axis (DW-NOMINATE dim 2)(?)

−1
+1
-0.036
Source: Voteview DW-NOMINATE · 343 scored votes

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Officeholding history

TermSeatTerm datesTerminationPredecessorSuccessor
2ndU.S. House CA-502025–presentIn progressScott H. Peters—
1stU.S. House CA-502023–2025Term endedDarrell IssaScott H. Peters
5thU.S. House CA-522021–2023Term endedScott H. PetersJuan Vargas
4thU.S. House CA-522019–2021Term endedScott H. PetersScott H. Peters
3rdU.S. House CA-522017–2019Term endedScott H. PetersScott H. Peters
2ndU.S. House CA-522015–2017Term endedScott H. PetersScott H. Peters
1stU.S. House CA-522013–2015Term ended—Scott H. Peters

Committee assignments

Current term legislation

Bills sponsored this term10

Bills cosponsored this term10

Elections

YearSeatResultVote shareField
2020U.S. House CA-52Won61.58%