Scott Peters

Scott Peters
Born	27 6, 1958
Birthplace	Springfield, Ohio, United States
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, attorney
Title	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
Known for	U.S. Representative for California's 50th congressional district
Education	Duke University (J.D.)
Website	[Official website Official site]

Scott Peters (born June 27, 1958) is an American attorney and politician serving as the U.S. Representative for California's 50th congressional district. A member of the Democratic Party, Peters has represented portions of the San Diego metropolitan area in Congress since 2013. Before entering federal politics, he served on the San Diego City Council and held the position of president of that body. In Congress, Peters has established himself as a member of the New Democrat Coalition, a caucus of centrist and moderate Democrats, and has served on the Budget Committee. His legislative focus has frequently centered on fiscal responsibility, government modernization, permitting reform, and bipartisan collaboration. Peters has been a consistent advocate for measures aimed at reducing the national debt and reforming federal processes, authoring and co-sponsoring bills that seek to streamline government operations and hold Congress accountable for budgetary obligations.

Early Life

Scott Peters was born on June 27, 1958, in Springfield, Ohio. He grew up in a middle-class household in the Midwest before eventually relocating to the West Coast. Details about his parents and early family life remain limited in publicly available records, though his upbringing in Ohio shaped his later interest in public service and civic engagement. Peters moved to California, where he would build both his legal career and his political career in the San Diego area. His transition from the Midwest to Southern California marked the beginning of a long association with the San Diego community, where he became involved in local governance before pursuing higher office.

Education

Peters attended college and subsequently pursued a law degree at Duke University, where he earned his Juris Doctor. His legal education at Duke provided the foundation for a career in environmental law and later in public policy. The analytical and legal skills developed during his time at Duke informed much of his later work in both the private sector and government, particularly his approach to regulatory and permitting issues that would become central to his legislative agenda in Congress.

Career

Early Political Career and San Diego City Council

Before entering national politics, Peters served as a member of the San Diego City Council, where he represented a district encompassing parts of the city. During his tenure on the council, he rose to the position of council president. His time in local government provided him with direct experience in urban governance, infrastructure, and the regulatory challenges facing a major American city. Peters' work at the municipal level helped build his reputation as a pragmatic and policy-oriented public servant, and it served as a springboard for his later congressional campaigns.

U.S. House of Representatives

Peters was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2012, representing what was then designated as California's 52nd congressional district. Following redistricting, he has represented California's 50th congressional district, which encompasses portions of the San Diego metropolitan area. As of 2026, he continues to serve in that capacity, identified as the representative for CA-50.

In Congress, Peters has been affiliated with the New Democrat Coalition, a caucus of centrist Democrats who generally favor pro-growth economic policies, fiscal responsibility, and bipartisan compromise. He has served on the Budget Committee, a position that has placed him at the center of debates over federal spending, the national debt, and budgetary procedures.

Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Reform

A recurring theme of Peters' congressional tenure has been his emphasis on fiscal discipline and accountability. In October 2025, Peters, alongside Representative Bill Huizenga (R-MI), introduced the bipartisan No Budget, No Pay Act. The legislation was designed to hold members of Congress accountable by tying their pay to the timely passage of a federal budget. The bill reflected Peters' long-standing frustration with congressional dysfunction in the budgeting process and his belief that elected officials should face consequences for failing to fulfill basic legislative responsibilities.

The national debt has been a persistent concern in Peters' public statements and legislative activity. As the national debt approached $39 trillion, Peters was among those in Congress pressing for more serious action to address fiscal imbalances. A February 2026 editorial in the Las Vegas Review-Journal discussed growing momentum on Capitol Hill to confront the debt crisis, reflecting the broader context in which Peters and like-minded legislators have operated. Peters' positioning on the Budget Committee has provided him a platform to advocate for bipartisan approaches to deficit reduction and long-term fiscal sustainability.

In February 2026, Peters appeared on C-SPAN's Washington Journal to discuss the Department of Homeland Security funding deadline and other congressional news. During the appearance, he was identified as a member of both the Budget Committee and the New Democrat Coalition, and he addressed the challenges of meeting government funding deadlines amid partisan disagreements.

Permitting Reform and Government Modernization

Peters has been a prominent advocate for reforming federal permitting processes, an issue that cuts across partisan lines and has implications for infrastructure development, energy projects, and economic growth. He has introduced and supported multiple pieces of legislation aimed at making the federal permitting system faster, more transparent, and more efficient.

In July 2025, Peters co-introduced the ePermit Act alongside Representative Dusty Johnson (R-SD). The bipartisan legislation sought to digitize the permitting process across the federal government, replacing paper-based and outdated systems with modern digital platforms. The bill aimed to reduce delays, lower costs, and improve accountability in the federal permitting pipeline.

In December 2025, Peters joined with Representatives Gabe Evans (R-CO), Andrew Garbarino (R-NY), and Gabe Vasquez (D-NM) to unveil a broader effort to accelerate federal permitting processes. The bipartisan group introduced measures designed to streamline the regulatory framework and reduce the time required for federal agencies to approve permits for various projects. The initiative reflected Peters' belief that government inefficiency in permitting represents a significant barrier to economic development and infrastructure modernization.

Also in December 2025, Peters released a statement regarding his vote against the SPEED Act (Standardizing Permitting for Energy and Environmental Development). While Peters has been a strong proponent of permitting reform in general, his opposition to the SPEED Act suggested that he found the specific provisions of that legislation insufficient or problematic in some respect. His statement indicated that he favored alternative approaches to permitting reform rather than the framework proposed in the SPEED Act. This distinction illustrated Peters' approach to policy: supportive of the broad goal of streamlining government processes while maintaining specific standards regarding how such reforms should be implemented.

Immigration and Homeland Security

Peters has taken positions on immigration and homeland security funding that reflect both his district's proximity to the U.S.-Mexico border and his broader policy outlook. In January 2026, Peters announced his intention to vote against funding for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the fiscal year appropriations process. In a statement released by his office, Peters, identified as the representative for CA-50, outlined his reasons for opposing the funding measure.

His position on the DHS funding deadline in early 2026 further demonstrated his engagement with immigration and security policy. During his C-SPAN appearance in February 2026, Peters discussed the approaching deadline for DHS funding and the broader legislative dynamics surrounding the issue, including disagreements between Democrats and Republicans over immigration enforcement priorities and spending levels.

Appropriations and Constituent Services

As part of his ongoing congressional duties, Peters has maintained an active role in the appropriations process. In February 2026, his office announced that it was accepting programmatic and language appropriations requests for Fiscal Year 2027. The announcement invited constituents and organizations within his district to submit requests through a formal process, reflecting the standard practice by which members of Congress seek to direct federal resources to their districts for specific projects and programs.

Bipartisan Approach

A defining characteristic of Peters' legislative career has been his emphasis on bipartisan collaboration. Multiple pieces of legislation he has introduced or co-sponsored have included Republican co-sponsors. The No Budget, No Pay Act was introduced with Representative Huizenga, a Michigan Republican. The ePermit Act was co-introduced with Representative Johnson, a South Dakota Republican. The December 2025 permitting reform initiative included two Republican and two Democratic co-sponsors. His membership in the New Democrat Coalition, which generally advocates for centrist policy positions, further underscores this orientation toward cross-party cooperation.

Personal Life

Peters resides in the San Diego area, which he has represented at both the local and federal level. Details about his family life, including his spouse and children, are not extensively documented in the sources available for this article. His long tenure in San Diego politics and his background as an attorney have made him a well-known figure in the region's civic life.

Recognition

Peters' work on fiscal responsibility and government modernization has earned him attention in national media and among good-government advocacy organizations. His appearances on programs such as C-SPAN's Washington Journal reflect his role as a commentator on budgetary and procedural issues in Congress. His bipartisan legislative efforts, particularly on permitting reform and budget accountability, have been noted in editorial coverage of congressional action on the national debt and government efficiency.

Legacy

As of 2026, Peters continues to serve in Congress, making definitive assessments of his legacy premature. However, his sustained focus on permitting reform, fiscal accountability, and bipartisan legislation has contributed to ongoing debates about government modernization and deficit reduction. His introduction of the No Budget, No Pay Act alongside a Republican colleague exemplifies an approach to governance that prioritizes pragmatic policy outcomes over partisan positioning. His multiple permitting reform initiatives — including the ePermit Act and the broader December 2025 effort to accelerate federal permitting — have contributed to a growing bipartisan consensus that federal regulatory processes require significant modernization. Peters' career trajectory, from the San Diego City Council to over a decade in Congress, reflects the path of a local government official who transitioned to national politics while maintaining a focus on practical governance and institutional reform.