Statewide · General election
California State Controller
Tuesday, November 3, 2026
On the ballot
2 certified candidates, listed alphabetically by last name.
Malia M. CohenIncumbent
California's State Controller, the state's top money officer, a job she has held since 2023. She earlier chaired the state's tax board and led San Francisco's city board as its president.
Full profile →Herb W Morgan
Spent decades in finance in San Diego. Founded the firm Efficient Market Advisors. Later worked at its buyer, Cantor Fitzgerald, and once led the SDCERS pension board.
Full profile →
Where they stand
Topic by topic, from each candidate’s own statements and public records.
Taxes & Cost of Living
- Urged the governor and legislature to spend with caution during recent state budget negotiations. Source →
- Says California spends more than any other state without being able to account for where the money goes, and campaigns on tracing that spending.
“California spends more than any state in the nation -- and still can't explain where the money goes.”
Source →
Government, Elections & Democracy
- Says she is running to govern the state's finances with transparency, efficiency, and fairness.
“transparency, efficiency and fairness”
Source → - Chaired a court-ordered task force that produced 20 recommendations to strengthen financial oversight of K-12 schools after a $400 million charter-school fraud case, and says her office reviews every state agency payment for legality and accuracy. Source →
- Has pushed to complete the state's transition to Fi$Cal, a unified financial system meant to eliminate duplicate reporting and improve transparency, and launched an initiative that cut a years-long backlog in the state's annual financial reports. Source →
- Says California has never conducted a full audit of its social-services system despite large fraud losses, and pledges real audits as Controller.
“California has never conducted a full, top-to-bottom audit of its social services system -- despite historic fraud losses.”
Source → - Proposes modernizing the state's financial reporting with blockchain-backed ledgers and public-facing, itemized spending records.
“Blockchain-backed ledgers. Transparent reporting. Receipts the public can actually see.”
Source → - Frames his campaign around what he calls "Radical Transparency" -- opening the state's books rather than managing the status quo.
“Herb Morgan isn't running to manage decline. He's running to restore accountability.”
Source →
Candidates are those certified for the official ballot, listed alphabetically by last name. Photos appear only when we have an official, reusable photo of every candidate in the race. Positions are compiled from the candidates’ own statements and public records. We never tell you how to vote.