Ed Cohen

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Ed Cohen

Democratic Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

June 9, 2020

Education

Bachelor's

Ohio University, 1981

Graduate

University of Southern California, 2008

Personal

Birthplace

Cleveland, OH

Contact

Campaign website

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Ed Cohen (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Nevada's 2nd Congressional District. He lost in the Democratic primary on June 9, 2020.

Cohen completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Ed Cohen was born in Cleveland, Ohio. He attended Ohio University for his undergraduate degree and the University of Southern California for his graduate degree. He began working as a marketing and communications director for a nonprofit in the justice field in 2016. From 1988 to 2016, he worked as a magazine writer and editor and communication manager and director for college and universities. From 1981 to 1987 he worked as a journalist.

Elections

2020

See also: Nevada's 2nd Congressional District election, 2020

Nevada's 2nd Congressional District election, 2020 (June 9 Republican primary)

Nevada's 2nd Congressional District election, 2020 (June 9 Democratic primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House Nevada District 2

Incumbent Mark Amodei defeated Patricia Ackerman and Janine Hansen in the general election for U.S. House Nevada District 2 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Mark Amodei (R)	56.5	216,078
		Patricia Ackerman (D)	40.7	155,780
		Janine Hansen (Independent American Party)	2.8	10,815

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 382,673
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Richard Dunn (Independent)

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Nevada District 2

The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Nevada District 2 on June 9, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Patricia Ackerman	48.9	26,411
		Clint Koble	22.8	12,315
		Ed Cohen	13.3	7,186
		Rick Shepherd	7.4	3,998
	Submit photo	Reynaldo Hernandez	5.2	2,790
		Steve Schiffman	1.8	974
	Submit photo	Ian Luetkehans	0.6	338

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 54,012
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Nevada District 2

Incumbent Mark Amodei defeated Joel Beck and Jesse Hurley in the Republican primary for U.S. House Nevada District 2 on June 9, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Mark Amodei	80.8	61,462
		Joel Beck	14.9	11,308
		Jesse Hurley	4.3	3,307

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 76,077
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Campaign themes

2020

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Ed Cohen completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Cohen's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Ed is a former award-winning newspaper and magazine reporter and editor who for the past three years has directed communications and marketing for a national nonprofit and nonpartisan organization in the justice field that is based in Reno. In 2018 he was honored as the employee who best exemplifies all five of the organization's core values: integrity, leadership, justice, excellence and innovation.

An independent (non-partisan) voter almost all of his adult life, he believes that no party holds a monopoly on good or bad ideas or good or bad people. America is about diverse people and ideas, and any call to "take our country back" will only lead to endless antagonism and division. The country belongs to all of us.

Ed believes in working collaboratively to find pragmatic solutions to problems, and he is a relentless advocate for honesty and accountability in public service. One of his signature proposals would amend the presidential oath of office and swear all future presidents to tell the truth.

He is running as a Democrat because in today's political climate the Democratic Party reflects his core values.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Defending democracy means defeating Trumpism and not allowing its evils to become the new normal.
• We can, we should, and I will fight to make quality, affordable health care available to all.
• We must protect public lands in beautiful Northern Nevada and allow only responsible, sustainable development.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

The 2020 general election will be a referendum on the most ignorant, irresponsible and dishonest major political figure in American history, Donald Trump, and on his party-blinded enablers in Congress.

I'm running to replace Trump's No. 1 enabler in Nevada, Rep. Mark Amodei, who chaired Trump's presidential campaign in Nevada and has condoned everything Trump has said and done as president. That includes the president having made a mind-boggling average of almost 15 false or misleading statements to the public PER DAY during his time in office (Washington Post Fact Checker, Dec. 16, 2019).

That's the elephant in the room that every voter can see and every other candidate for this office has chosen to ignore. Tolerating incessant lying by the holder of the most powerful office in government is an indefensible public policy.

We must also set aside childish party rivalries and devise practical strategies to address affordable health care, immigration, climate change, vast and growing disparities in income and wealth, mass shootings, reproductive rights and more.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

My father, Cal Cohen, who passed away unexpectedly two years ago, was the best person I ever knew. He was my hero, and I think of him every day.

I admire and continue to be inspired Gandhi, King and others who worked relentlessly for peace, justice and understanding.

One of my political role models is Nancy Norling, a calm, thoughtful independent who chaired a politically divided Public Service Commission in Delaware when I covered regulated utilities for the state's dominant newspaper.

I also admire and appreciate many past and present creative artists, especially humorists, who make life more enjoyable.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

How Democracies Die by Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Honesty. A commitment to public service. Accountability. The courage to stand up for Constitution and fundamental elements of American democracy such as equal justice, the rule of law, freedom of the press, and free and fair elections.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I tell the truth. I believe in justice. I seek reasonable and practical solutions. I have a thick skin. I am relentless.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Public service, including constituent services (e.g,, providing help in dealing with government agencies). Authoring or supporting legislation to improve life for Northern Nevadans and all Americans. Fulfilling constitutional responsibilities, including serving as a check and balance on the executive and judicial branches. Continually demonstrating ethical behavior. Actually answering constituent questions rather than mailing form-letter "responses."

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

As a child I was keenly interested in the space program. I was 10 at the time of the first moon landing. I also remember the violent conflicts during the same era, including the political assassinations and the deadly protest at Kent State.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Mowing lawns in my neighborhood, which I did for several years. While growing up I also worked part time as a warehouse worker and in retail and building maintenance. Since college, writing, editing and communication management has been the focus of my professional life.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Chuck Noland from Cast Away

What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution?

No body of the national government is closer to the people because House members must face the voters every other year. This is both a blessing and a curse. The framers envisioned Representatives who would be especially responsive to their constituents' needs. But the reality of modern elections is that members are almost always having to raise money for the next campaign.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?

Yes. Knowing the ropes and building relationships makes it easier to work effectively in a legislature or in any organization. But becoming cynical or discouraged by the system and losing one's ideals is clearly an occupational hazard in politics.

What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

No. 1 is rejecting the historic evils of white nationalism, bigotry, ignorance, lies and authoritarianism. We must instead rededicate ourselves to America's highest ideals, including democracy, civility, equality of opportunity, tolerance, the rule of law, freedom of the press, education, innovation and the ability to act collectively toward worthy goals.

No problem is insurmountable and no achievement is beyond the reach of an America that lives up to those ideals.

If you are not a current representative, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

I would want to serve on committees vital to Northern Nevada, especially Natural Resources (mineral resources, indigenous peoples, public lands). I intend to found the House Honesty Caucus to encourage truth telling and call attention to dishonesty. So I would be interested in the Ethics Committee, also the Judiciary Committee because of my experience working for a national nonprofit in the justice field.

Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?

I don't know. I'll have a better idea after I've gone through a cycle or two.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

We already have term limits, elections. We voters have it in our power to limit any elected officials' time in office. If the official is doing a great job, why fire her or him after an arbitrary number of years ? A well-educated and attentive electorate is the best term limit. Sadly, as Chief Justice Roberts recently observed, too many Americans take democracy for granted. They don't have a strong understanding of civics or an appreciation of the importance of civic responsibilities.

If you are not currently a member of your party’s leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives, would you be interested in joining the leadership? If so, in what role?

Absolutely. I mentioned my promise to create the House Honesty Caucus. I would be interested in any position that strengthens ethical behavior and supports good government.

Is there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Democrat Russ Feingold comes to mind, as does Harold V. Froehlich. He was one of the seven (out of 17) Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee who voted to impeach Richard Nixon, knowing it would likely cost him re-election. Which it did. He went on to serve 30 years as a judge.

Both sitting representatives and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

Vivian Leal is a Reno woman dealing with multiple sclerosis. When she was first diagnosed, her medication cost over $8,700 a year. Now it's over $90,000 a year. She has become an advocate for health care reform, including preservation of Obamacare's coverage for pre-existing conditions.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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Footnotes

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Nevada's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Catherine Masto (D)

Jacky Rosen (D)

Representatives

District 1

Dina Titus (D)

District 2

Mark Amodei (R)

District 3

Susie Lee (D)

District 4

Steven Horsford (D)

Democratic Party (5)

Republican Party (1)