Controller
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.
Candidates
Malia M. Cohen
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 hashed out a budget deal, Cohen urged them to spend with caution.
Herb W. Morgan
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.
Endorsements
Malia M. Cohen
Herb W. Morgan
Campaign finance
Candidate committees
Candidates raise money to run for office through their campaign committees. The committees must identify large donors who give $100 or more. In the tables below, we exclude small donors whose contributions total less than $100 and any transfers from a candidate’s previous campaign committee for a different race. Contribution limits vary by office and type of donor.
- Large donors
- Small donors
- Self-funding
- Difference to opponent
Malia M. Cohen
Herb W. Morgan
Outside spending
Separate from candidate committees, outside groups can pay for ads, mailers and other efforts to influence voters. They can’t coordinate that spending with candidate committees. There is no limit on how much they can spend.
- Support
- Oppose
- Difference to opponent
Malia M. Cohen
