2026 California State Controller election
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November 3, 2026
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| Elections in California |
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The 2026 California State Controller election will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect the California state controller. The nonpartisan top-two primary election will take place on June 2, 2026. Incumbent Democrat Malia Cohen was elected in 2022 with 55.35% to Republican opponent Lanhee Chen's 44.65%.[1] This margin was the closest of the 2022 statewide elections in California.[2] After previously mulling a run for state treasurer,[3] Cohen decided to run for reelection to a second term.[4] Republican Herb Morgan is also running.
Candidates
Democratic Party
Advanced to general
- Malia Cohen, incumbent California State Controller (2023–present)[4]
Republican Party
Advanced to general
- Herb Morgan, CIO of Cantor Fitzgerald[5]
Peace and Freedom Party
Eliminated in primary
Primary election
Endorsements
Meghann Adams (PFP)
- Political parties
Malia Cohen (D)
- Labor unions
- California Faculty Association[9]
- California Federation of Labor Unions[10]
- California Nurses Association[11]
- Los Angeles County Federation of Labor[12]
- SEIU California[13]
- SEIU United Healthcare Workers West[14]
- International Brotherhood of Teamsters California[15] and Local 665[16]
- Organizations
- Black Women Organized for Political Action PAC[17]
- Sierra Club California[18] and Angeles Chapter[19]
- Stonewall Democratic Club[20]
- Vote Mama[21]
- Political parties
- Newspapers
Herb Morgan (R)
- Organizations
- Political parties
- California Republican Party[27][28]
- Unity Party of America and California[29]
- Newspapers
- McClatchy Media California[a][30]
Results
Cohen
- 40–50%
- 50–60%
- 60–70%
- 70–80%
Morgan
- 40–50%
- 50–60%
- 60–70%
- 70–80%
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Malia Cohen (incumbent) | 4,909,613 | 56.80 | |
| Republican | Herb Morgan | 3,244,252 | 37.53 | |
| Peace and Freedom | Meghann Adams | 489,663 | 5.67 | |
| Total votes | 8,643,528 | 100.00 | ||
By county
| County[32] | Malia Cohen Democratic |
Herb Morgan Republican |
Meghann Adams Peace and Freedom |
Margin | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | ||
| Alameda | 272,859 | 72.93% | 71,973 | 19.24% | 29,281 | 7.83% | 200,886 | 53.70% | 374,113 |
| Alpine | 289 | 60.97% | 164 | 34.60% | 21 | 4.43% | 125 | 26.37% | 474 |
| Amador | 5,086 | 33.67% | 9,537 | 63.14% | 481 | 3.18% | -4,451 | -29.47% | 15,104 |
| Butte | 25,072 | 42.93% | 30,673 | 52.52% | 2,657 | 4.55% | -5,601 | -9.59% | 58,402 |
| Calaveras | 5,526 | 33.32% | 10,559 | 63.66% | 501 | 3.02% | -5,033 | -30.34% | 16,586 |
| Colusa | 1,294 | 31.81% | 2,640 | 64.90% | 134 | 3.29% | -1,346 | -33.09% | 4,068 |
| Contra Costa | 192,991 | 65.61% | 87,575 | 29.77% | 13,597 | 4.62% | 105,416 | 35.84% | 294,163 |
| Del Norte | 2,487 | 40.01% | 3,482 | 56.02% | 247 | 3.97% | -995 | -16.01% | 6,216 |
| El Dorado | 28,603 | 39.76% | 41,514 | 57.71% | 1,823 | 2.53% | -12,911 | -17.95% | 71,940 |
| Fresno | 76,684 | 45.36% | 84,058 | 49.73% | 627 | 4.91% | -7,374 | -4.36% | 169,041 |
| Glenn | 1,588 | 25.76% | 4,332 | 70.28% | 244 | 3.96% | -2,744 | -44.52% | 6,164 |
| Humboldt | 22,938 | 60.31% | 12,478 | 32.81% | 2,620 | 6.89% | 10,460 | 27.50% | 38,036 |
| Imperial | 12,996 | 55.18% | 9,203 | 39.07% | 1,354 | 5.75% | 3,793 | 16.10% | 23,553 |
| Inyo | 2,528 | 45.22% | 2,814 | 50.33% | 249 | 4.45% | -286 | -5.12% | 5,591 |
| Kern | 53,852 | 38.22% | 80,377 | 57.05% | 6,658 | 4.73% | -26,525 | -18.83% | 140,887 |
| Kings | 7,665 | 36.22% | 12,568 | 59.38% | 932 | 4.40% | -4,903 | -23.17% | 21,165 |
| Lake | 7,563 | 47.89% | 7,520 | 47.62% | 709 | 4.49% | 43 | 0.27% | 15,792 |
| Lassen | 1,450 | 20.81% | 5,317 | 76.31% | 201 | 2.88% | -3,867 | -55.50% | 6,968 |
| Los Angeles | 1,226,698 | 61.99% | 582,493 | 29.44% | 169,675 | 8.57% | 644,205 | 32.55% | 1,978,866 |
| Madera | 11,133 | 37.06% | 17,758 | 59.12% | 1,147 | 3.82% | -6,625 | -22.06% | 30,038 |
| Marin | 70,148 | 76.50% | 18,316 | 19.97% | 3,232 | 3.52% | 51,832 | 56.53% | 91,696 |
| Mariposa | 2,364 | 36.74% | 3,845 | 59.75% | 226 | 3.51% | -1,481 | -23.01% | 6,435 |
| Mendocino | 14,813 | 62.95% | 7,750 | 32.94% | 968 | 4.11% | 7,063 | 30.02% | 23,531 |
| Merced | 20,247 | 46.45% | 20,817 | 47.76% | 2,526 | 5.79% | -570 | -1.31% | 43,590 |
| Modoc | 607 | 23.32% | 1,901 | 73.03% | 95 | 3.65% | -1,294 | -49.71% | 2,603 |
| Mono | 1,920 | 55.08% | 1,432 | 41.08% | 134 | 3.84% | 488 | 14.00% | 3,486 |
| Monterey | 47,814 | 62.60% | 24,851 | 32.53% | 3,721 | 4.87% | 22,963 | 30.06% | 76,386 |
| Napa | 24,833 | 64.03% | 12,680 | 32.70% | 1,269 | 3.27% | 12,153 | 31.34% | 38,782 |
| Nevada | 20,953 | 51.90% | 18,020 | 44.64% | 1,398 | 3.46% | 2,933 | 7.27% | 40,371 |
| Orange | 357,085 | 47.52% | 364,039 | 48.45% | 30,264 | 4.03% | -6,954 | -0.93% | 751,388 |
| Placer | 61,844 | 42.32% | 80,591 | 55.15% | 3,690 | 2.53% | -18,747 | -12.83% | 146,125 |
| Plumas | 2,688 | 37.53% | 4,197 | 58.59% | 278 | 3.88% | -1,509 | -21.07% | 7,163 |
| Riverside | 250,688 | 48.51% | 243,423 | 47.11% | 22,615 | 4.38% | 7,265 | 1.41% | 516,726 |
| Sacramento | 212,399 | 57.56% | 137,850 | 37.36% | 18,752 | 5.08% | 74,549 | 20.20% | 369,001 |
| San Benito | 8,483 | 55.43% | 6,234 | 40.74% | 586 | 3.83% | 2,249 | 14.70% | 15,303 |
| San Bernardino | 178,198 | 47.85% | 174,873 | 46.96% | 19,338 | 5.19% | 3,325 | 0.89% | 372,409 |
| San Diego | 444,730 | 55.11% | 333,638 | 41.34% | 28,607 | 3.54% | 111,092 | 13.77% | 806,975 |
| San Francisco | 175,509 | 72.62% | 33,461 | 13.85% | 32,710 | 13.53% | 142,048 | 58.78% | 241,680 |
| San Joaquin | 61,693 | 48.56% | 59,588 | 46.90% | 5,761 | 4.53% | 2,105 | 1.66% | 127,042 |
| San Luis Obispo | 48,521 | 51.18% | 43,079 | 45.44% | 3,199 | 3.37% | 5,442 | 5.74% | 94,799 |
| San Mateo | 130,255 | 71.00% | 45,175 | 24.63% | 8,021 | 4.37% | 85,080 | 46.38% | 183,451 |
| Santa Barbara | 61,796 | 58.93% | 38,974 | 37.17% | 4,088 | 3.90% | 22,822 | 21.76% | 104,858 |
| Santa Clara | 260,373 | 66.48% | 114,260 | 29.17% | 17,013 | 4.34% | 146,113 | 37.31% | 391,646 |
| Santa Cruz | 57,112 | 73.33% | 16,378 | 21.03% | 4,392 | 5.64% | 40,734 | 52.30% | 77,882 |
| Shasta | 15,597 | 30.17% | 34,572 | 66.87% | 1,528 | 2.96% | -18,975 | -36.70% | 51,697 |
| Sierra | 401 | 34.16% | 742 | 63.20% | 31 | 2.64% | -341 | -29.05% | 1,174 |
| Siskiyou | 5,029 | 37.19% | 7,997 | 59.15% | 495 | 3.66% | -2,968 | -21.95% | 13,521 |
| Solano | 59,090 | 59.73% | 35,636 | 36.02% | 4,195 | 4.24% | 23,454 | 23.71% | 98,921 |
| Sonoma | 110,132 | 69.59% | 39,708 | 25.09% | 8,412 | 5.32% | 70,424 | 44.50% | 158,252 |
| Stanislaus | 40,372 | 42.94% | 49,795 | 52.96% | 3,856 | 4.10% | -9,423 | -10.02% | 94,023 |
| Sutter | 7,371 | 33.54% | 13,717 | 62.41% | 891 | 4.05% | -6,346 | -28.87% | 21,979 |
| Tehama | 4,082 | 25.48% | 11,416 | 71.25% | 525 | 3.28% | -7,334 | -45.77% | 16,023 |
| Trinity | 1,435 | 42.09% | 1,819 | 53.36% | 155 | 4.55% | -384 | -11.26% | 3,409 |
| Tulare | 25,255 | 36.89% | 40,311 | 58.89% | 2,890 | 4.22% | -15,056 | -21.99% | 68,456 |
| Tuolumne | 7,247 | 37.50% | 11,448 | 59.25% | 628 | 3.25% | -4,201 | -21.74% | 19,323 |
| Ventura | 117,136 | 54.78% | 88,373 | 41.33% | 8,339 | 3.90% | 28,763 | 13.45% | 213,848 |
| Yolo | 36,496 | 65.04% | 16,306 | 29.06% | 3,313 | 5.90% | 20,190 | 35.98% | 56,115 |
| Yuba | 5,595 | 34.34% | 10,005 | 61.41% | 692 | 4.25% | -4,410 | -27.07% | 16,292 |
| Totals | 4,909,613 | 56.80% | 3,244,252 | 37.53% | 489,663 | 5.67% | 1,665,361 | 19.27% | 8,643,528 |
General election
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Malia Cohen (incumbent) | ||||
| Republican | Herb Morgan | ||||
| Total votes | |||||
See also
Notes
References
- ↑ Nixon, Nicole (December 6, 2022). "Here's what we know about California 2022 election results". CapRadio. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
- ↑ Mehta, Seema (March 10, 2023). "California Republicans, buoyed by congressional wins, have no obvious Senate prospects". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
- ↑ Jones, Blake; Gardiner, Justin (December 20, 2024). "Why Dems are grumbling about Malia Cohen". Politico. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
- 1 2 Mason, Melanie; Jones, Blake; Gardiner, Dustin (September 4, 2025). "SCOOP: Villaraigosa swipes at Porter and Becerra". Politico. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
- ↑ Billing, Karen (May 19, 2025). "Local resident joins the race for California state controller". Del Mar Times. Retrieved September 18, 2025 – via The San Diego Union-Tribune.
- ↑ "Local 1741 Ratifies Trio of Strong Agreements". International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers Local 1741. August 22, 2025. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
- ↑ Balakrishnan, Eleni (October 8, 2025). "This Tenderloin bus driver wants to manage California's finances". Mission Local. Retrieved December 13, 2025.
- 1 2 "Left Unity has begun for the June 2026 primary election". December 18, 2025. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
- ↑ "Endorsements". California Faculty Association. Retrieved April 16, 2026.
- ↑ "Labor 2026 Primary Election Endorsements". California Federation of Labor Unions, AFL-CIO. Retrieved April 14, 2026.
- ↑ "California endorsements". National Nurses United. March 22, 2018. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
- ↑ "LA County Federation of Labor Endorsements". The LA Fed. Retrieved April 15, 2026.
- ↑ "2026 ELECTION ENDORSEMENTS". SEIU California. Archived from the original on February 22, 2026. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
- ↑ "SEIU-UHW 2026 Primary Election Endorsements". SEIU United Healthcare Workers West. Archived from the original on February 8, 2026. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
- ↑ "2026 California Endorsements" (PDF). Teamsters Joint Council 42. September 18, 2025. Retrieved October 22, 2025.
- ↑ Sinogui, Flo (September 11, 2025). "Teamsters Local 665 & Teamsters California Endorse State Candidates". Teamsters Local 665. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
- ↑ BWOPA PAC [@bwopa_pac] (August 26, 2025). "We are thrilled to endorse @malia.cohen's re-election as CA State Controller". Retrieved September 18, 2025 – via Instagram.
- ↑ "2025 Endorsements - SCC Political Committee". Sierra Club California. Retrieved October 22, 2025.
- ↑ Simpson, Jane. "Endorsements". Sierra Club Angeles Chapter. Retrieved December 13, 2025.
- ↑ "2026 November Stonewall Endorsed Candidates". Stonewall Democratic Club. Archived from the original on January 26, 2026. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
- ↑ "Vote Mama PAC Candidates". Vote Mama PAC. Retrieved November 25, 2025.
- ↑ "2026 Primary election Endorsements" (PDF). Retrieved April 3, 2026.
- ↑ "Editorial: Recommendations for CA offices". Bay Area Reporter. May 6, 2026. Retrieved May 22, 2026.
- ↑ "Endorsement: A cautious recommendation for California state controller". San Francisco Chronicle. May 21, 2026. Retrieved May 22, 2026.
- ↑ "The Ballot: Who We're Recommending For on June 2". Sun-Reporter. May 12, 2026. Retrieved May 22, 2026.
- ↑ "California 2026 Primary Endorsements from Groups & Resource Info". Fullerton Observer. May 11, 2026.
- ↑ Republican Party, California (April 12, 2026). "The California Republican Party has endorsed @HerbWMorgan for State Controller". California Republican Party. Retrieved April 14, 2026.
- ↑ City, News Service (April 12, 2026). "State Republicans fail to endorse candidate for governor". ABC10 News San Diego. Retrieved April 12, 2026.
- ↑ Giusto, Andrew (August 22, 2025). "Unity Party Fields California Candidates Times Two". Unity Party of America. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
- ↑ Editorial Board (May 4, 2026). "McClatchy endorses the Republican in California's state controller primary". The Sacramento Bee.
- ↑ Weber, Shirley (July 10, 2026). "Complete Statement of Vote" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 11, 2026. Retrieved July 11, 2026.
- ↑ Weber, Shirley (July 10, 2026). "Controller by County" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 21, 2026. Retrieved August 28, 2026.
External links
Official campaign websites