STATE: Controller

Note: this post will be periodically updated! (10/07/2026)

TOP * Malia M. Cohen (D) * Herb W. Morgan (R)

VOTER GUIDE – QUICK LINKS:

Controller – Vote for (1)

(Calmatters) “California’s controller serves as the state’s chief accountant, overseeing spending in a state that makes up one of the world’s largest economies. Whoever is elected will be in charge of auditing the state’s finances and paying government employees.” 

(LA Times) Your guide to the California state controller race: Democrat Malia Cohen faces challengers

ENDORSED Malia M. Cohen (D) – State Controller/Mother

RECOMMENDATION: YES

TOP * Malia M. Cohen (D) * Herb W. Morgan (R)

  • Age: 48
  • Residence: San Francisco
  • Education:
    • B.A. in political science from Fisk University, M.S. in public policy and management from Carnegie Mellon University
  • Employment & experience:
    • California Controller (2023-present)
    • Senior Consultant, Power Forward Consulting (social media consulting) (2008-present)
    • Member, California State Board of Equalization District 2 (2019-2023)
    • Member, San Francisco Board of Supervisors (2011-2019)
    • Legislative Aide, San Mateo County Supervisor Rose Jacobs Gibson (2006-?)
    • Secretary & Executive Staff, Office of San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom (2004-2006)
    • Field Organizer, Gavin Newsom for San Francisco Mayor Campaign (2003) 
    • Founder & Consultant, public policy and social media consulting firm 
  • Priorities:
    • Provide fiscal transparency and perform rigorous audits of state agencies, county programs, and public pension funds to safeguard taxpayer funds and prevent fraud.
    • Expand affordable housing through property tax abatements and tax incentives.
    • Focus fiscal oversight on closing wage gaps and supporting working-class communities and small businesses.
    • Align state financial management and public pension investments with environmental conservation goals.
    • Use her position on the State Lands Commission to oversee natural resources, push for renewable energy on public lands, and enforce environmental standards.
  • Contributions  (All PACs that support this candidate may not be identifiable.)
    • Contributions (as of 6/30/2026, ): $1,629,764
    • Top Contributors:
  • Notable Endorsements:
    • Governor Gavin Newsom
    • Lt Governor Eleni Kounalakis
    • Secretary of State Dr. Shirley Weber
    • Senator Adam Schiff
    • Treasurer Fiona Ma
    • Speaker of the State Assembly Robert Rivas
    • Senate President Pro Tempore Monique Limón
    • Organizations – CA Council for Affordable Housing, Jane Fonda Climate PAC
    • Unions – AFSCME, teachers, building & construction trades, firefighters, law enforcement, communications workers, electricians, boilermakers, ship builders, blacksmiths, pipefitters, Teamsters, carpenters
  • Links:

(Calmatters) “Cohen has served as California’s controller since 2023 and is running for re-election. She’s campaigning on a promise to govern the state’s finances with “transparency, efficiency and fairness.” In recent months, as the governor and legislators hash out a budget deal, Cohen has been urging them to spend with caution.“

CADEM
GOOD club
California Young Democrats
fund her
equality CA
Adam
GAVIN NEWSOMEleni Kounalakis
Fiona Ma
Central Coast Labor Council

Herb W Morgan (R) – Chief Investment Officer

RECOMMENDATION: NO.

TOP * Malia M. Cohen (D) * Herb W. Morgan (R)

(Calmatters) “Morgan is running on the promise of exposing fraud in government at a time when the Trump administration also is leveling fraud accusations against California. Morgan founded an investment firm in San Diego that was later acquired by Cantor Fitzgerald Investment Advisors.”

  • Age: 60
  • Residence: San Diego
  • Education: B.A. in economics from UC Santa Cruz
  • Employment & experience:
    • Founded investment firm Efficient Market Advisors (founded it in 2004, sold it in 2017)
    • Worked as Chief Investment Officer for the firm that bought his company (2017-2026)
    • Served on San Diego City Employees’ Association Retirement System Board (2009-2013)
  • Priorities:
    • Audit government spending, especially homelessness programs
    • Use AI to expose suspicious, improper, or wasteful state payments
    • Expose waste and fraud
    • Modernize oversight – blockchain-backed ledgers
  • Contributions  (All PACs that support this candidate may not be identifiable.)
  • Notable Endorsements:
    • Sacramento Bee
    • Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones
    • Assemblyman + Reform California Chairman Carl DeMaio
    • Former Mayor + San Diego County Lincoln Club Chairman Kevin Faulconer
    • John Voight – Actor
    • Organizations – Israeli-American Civic Action Network, California Rifle & Pistol Association, United Indian Council, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association
  • Links:

Sample of Endorsements here: