California Controller election, 2022

Elections in California, 2022

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2026 → ← 2018
California Controller
Election details
Filing deadline: March 11, 2022
Primary: June 7, 2022 General: November 8, 2022 Pre-election incumbent(s): Betty Yee (Democratic)
How to vote
Poll times: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voting in California
Ballotpedia analysis
Federal and state primary competitiveness State executive elections in 2022 Impact of term limits in 2022 State government trifectas State government triplexes Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2022
California executive elections
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Malia Cohen (D) defeated Lanhee Chen (R) in the race for California controller on November 8, 2022. Incumbent Betty Yee (D) was not able to file for re-election due to term limits.

Cohen was elected to the California State Board of Equalization in 2018, representing District 2. Her professional experience included working for Power Forward Consulting and the Corporate Strategy and Communications team for the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. Cohen emphasized equity and diversity, saying she would "ensure that addressing equity is a cornerstone priority of [my] office." She added, "I think that we need to have more diversity, I think we need to have more conversations about equity, what that looks like in the distribution of tax dollars."

Chen's career experience included working as a Stanford University professor and researcher at the Hoover Institution. Chen was nominated by President Barack Obama (D) and confirmed by the United States Senate in 2013 to serve as a member of the Social Security Advisory Board. Chen said, "For too long, the Controller has been a Sacramento insider, valuing partisanship over competence." She added, "We need a check on the Sacramento politicians who spend first and ask questions later."

According to the final fundraising report before the election, Chen led in fundraising, receiving $4.8 million in contributions to Cohen's $2.7 million. According to the Los Angeles Times, "Most of Chen’s funds have gone toward campaign consultants, office expenses and campaign workers’ salaries," while the "vast majority of Cohen’s spending, more than $1.1 million, has been on TV or cable airtime and production."

At the time of the election, California had had a Democratic controller since 1975. In the 2018 election, Yee defeated Konstantinos Roditis (R) 65.5%-34.5%.

The controller serves on the Board of Equalization and the Franchise Tax Board. The areas of government audited and reviewed by the controller include school districts, the California State Lottery, oil and gas lease royalties, state agencies, and a multitude of local governments.

Malia Cohen (D) and Lanhee Chen (R) completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. To read those survey responses, click here.

Malia Cohen won election in the general election for California Controller.

Candidates and election results

General election

General election for California Controller

Malia Cohen defeated Lanhee Chen in the general election for California Controller on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Malia Cohen (D)	55.3	5,936,856
		Lanhee Chen (R)	44.7	4,789,345

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 10,726,201
= 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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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for California Controller

The following candidates ran in the primary for California Controller on June 7, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Lanhee Chen (R)	37.2	2,533,305
✔		Malia Cohen (D)	22.7	1,542,397
		Yvonne Yiu (D)	15.1	1,024,707
		Steve Glazer (D)	11.1	756,518
		Ron Galperin (D)	10.1	690,484
		Laura Wells (G)	3.8	258,053

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 6,805,464
= 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.

Pre-election analysis and commentary

What was at stake

• KQED's "California Voter Guide" described the duties of the controller as follows: "The controller is California's chief fiscal officer with responsibility for overseeing and evaluating the state’s finances. The controller pays the state’s bills, issuing checks to vendors, state employees and retirees, local governments and others. The controller has the power to audit state agencies and federal programs in California, and also sits on 70 state boards and commissions."

• CalMatters' Sameea Kamal said that Chen would be "trying to break a 16-year losing streak for Republicans for statewide offices. Their last victory was in 2006, when Republican Steve Poizner was elected insurance commissioner and Arnold Schwarzenegger was reelected governor."

Messaging and strategy

• KQED's "California Voter Guide" summarized the candidate's positions on how they would use the authority of the office. According to the guide, Chen "wants more frequent and rigorous 'systemic audits.' He sees audits as key to promoting transparency, accountability and fiscal responsibility, and promises a 'non-ideological' approach to audits and fiscal responsibility. His key audit targets are K-12 spending and homeless programs, along with the Employment Development Department and the High-Speed Rail Authority." Cohen, meanwhile, would "use audits to promote fairness and “redistribute resources” in the name of equity for underserved communities where necessary. She supports performance audits to make sure programs aimed at issues such as homelessness and affordable housing are being used efficiently."

Fundraising and spending

• The Los Angeles Times' Gabrielle LaMarr LeMee, Sandhya Kambhampati, and Iris Lee said, "The two candidates on the November ballot for controller have raised a combined $8 million for their candidate committees. About 56% of that amount went to Lanhee Chen." The authors also said, "Chen has received 1,610 donations averaging $2,800 each," while "Cohen has received 1,095 donations averaging $3,260 each."

Voting information

See also: Voting in California

Election information in California: Nov. 8, 2022, election.

What was the voter registration deadline?

• In-person: Oct. 24, 2022
• By mail: Postmarked by Oct. 24, 2022
• Online: Oct. 24, 2022

Was absentee/mail-in voting available to all voters?

N/A

What was the absentee/mail-in ballot request deadline?

• In-person: Nov. 8, 2022
• By mail: Received by Nov. 1, 2022
• Online: N/A

What was the absentee/mail-in ballot return deadline?

• In-person: Nov. 8, 2022
• By mail: Postmarked by Nov. 8, 2022

Was early voting available to all voters?

Yes

What were the early voting start and end dates?

Oct. 10, 2022 to Nov. 7, 2022

Were all voters required to present ID at the polls? If so, was a photo or non-photo ID required?

N/A

When were polls open on Election Day?

N/A

Candidate comparison

Candidate profiles

This section includes candidate profiles that may be created in one of two ways: either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff may compile a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy. For more on how we select candidates to include, click here.

Malia Cohen

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography:  "I was born and raised in San Francisco and attended public schools in the City. I earned a BA from Fisk University and a Master’s in Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon University. In 2010, I was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors where I served on the Budget and Finance Committee. I was elected to the State Board of Equalization in 2018 and serve as Chair overseeing over $80 billion in property taxes. I've served as President of the San Francisco Police Commission and as President of the San Francisco Employee Retirement System. I'm currently running for Controller to build a fairer, more equitable California for all."

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Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

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I plan to be a watchdog over California's tax dollars to ensure that communities across the state are getting the funding they deserve. I have the experience needed to do this job having served as the Budget and Finance Chair for the San Francisco Employees Retirement System, Chair of the San Francisco Board of Supervisor's Budget and Finance Committee, and Chair of the State Board of Equalization. I want to work to reduce fraud and waste in the system while also modernizing our state's technological infrastructure.

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I want to bring equity and justice to the State Controller's office to reduce historic inequalities. The Controller has the ability to spotlight issues and can produce data to inform policymakers on important decisions. I have done this throughout my career. While on the Board of Supervisors, I passed legislation requiring the San Francisco Police Department to produce quarterly reports on the use of force. I've also worked to make the San Francisco budgeting process more transparent to end political payouts that hinder the process. I am committed to transparency and making decisions that help build a California where everyone thrives.

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I have the values to do this job. While overseeing the San Francisco Employees Retirement System, I divested the City's pension fund from fossil fuels to reaffirm our commitment to fighting climate change. While on the board of supervisors, I cracked down on fake health centers spreading false information relating to women's reproductive health. While on the Board of Equalization, I have emphasized affordable housing and tax incentives that help minority homeowners. I am the only candidate in the race that has the values that reflect California voters.

This information was current as of the candidate's run for California Controller in 2022.

Lanhee Chen

Party: Republican Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography:  "I am a leader, problem-solver and educator. I’ve built my career on tackling some of California and America’s biggest fiscal policy challenges. I was raised in Southern California and am the son of immigrants from Taiwan. After earning four degrees from Harvard University, including a law degree and doctorate in political science, I served in senior roles in both Republican and Democratic presidential administrations. Today, I teach at Stanford University, where I also conduct research at the Hoover Institution, a public policy think tank. I have helped leaders in California and around the country develop policies to address some of our society’s most pressing problems—like improving our health care system, saving Social Security, and growing our economy. My writings have appeared in America’s biggest newspapers and I have frequently shared my ideas on television news programs across America. I built my own small business, which provides advice on fiscal and other policy issues to leaders in the public and private sectors. I am an investor who works with entrepreneurs to help them grow their businesses and create jobs. I am currently the Chair of the Board of Directors of El Camino Health, a health care system in my community."

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Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

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The Controller is California’s independent fiscal watchdog. That means that I won’t need the legislature or governor’s permission to audit state and local agencies and programs. As Controller, I will use my audit authority aggressively and frequently, particularly in examining state programs that may be ripe for fraud and abuse. Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid program, is just one example. The number of Californians enrolled in the program has increased by about 50 percent since 2014, but the Controller’s Office has only periodically reviewed its operations. And that’s just one example. There are many others, from high-speed rail to California’s fraud-ridden unemployment insurance program, that taxpayers deserve to know more about.

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As Controller, I will hold policy makers accountable for keeping the promises they make. For too long, the one-party monopoly in Sacramento has resulted in politicians protecting one another rather than being accountable to taxpayers. This is particularly important as we consider the challenges that we faced during the recent pandemic. California taxpayers deserve answers to questions like how tens of billions of dollars in federal assistance during the pandemic were spent. And whether school districts are actually using the funding they’ve received to help get our kids back into the classroom safely. These are the sorts of questions that, as Controller, I will answer on behalf of taxpayers.

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The Controller’s Office was unable to disclose to the public where each one of the roughly 50 million payments it made—totaling over $300 billion in 2018 alone—went. The state’s comprehensive financial reporting system, FI$Cal, was supposed to be finished already, but is over-budget, late, and expected to lack some of the functions that were originally promised. As Controller, I will put an end to the Sacramento excuses and produce results. I will leverage the innovation and technology we have in our state to ensure that taxpayers have access to a best-in-class system to see these payments and understand exactly how their money is being spent.

This information was current as of the candidate's run for California Controller in 2022.

Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses

Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Survey responses from candidates in this race

Click on a candidate's name to visit their Ballotpedia page.

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.

Expand all | Collapse all

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?

Lanhee Chen (R)

The Controller is California’s independent fiscal watchdog. That means that I won’t need the legislature or governor’s permission to audit state and local agencies and programs. As Controller, I will use my audit authority aggressively and frequently, particularly in examining state programs that may be ripe for fraud and abuse. Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid program, is just one example. The number of Californians enrolled in the program has increased by about 50 percent since 2014, but the Controller’s Office has only periodically reviewed its operations. And that’s just one example. There are many others, from high-speed rail to California’s fraud-ridden unemployment insurance program, that taxpayers deserve to know more about.

As Controller, I will hold policy makers accountable for keeping the promises they make. For too long, the one-party monopoly in Sacramento has resulted in politicians protecting one another rather than being accountable to taxpayers. This is particularly important as we consider the challenges that we faced during the recent pandemic. California taxpayers deserve answers to questions like how tens of billions of dollars in federal assistance during the pandemic were spent. And whether school districts are actually using the funding they’ve received to help get our kids back into the classroom safely. These are the sorts of questions that, as Controller, I will answer on behalf of taxpayers.

The Controller’s Office was unable to disclose to the public where each one of the roughly 50 million payments it made—totaling over $300 billion in 2018 alone—went. The state’s comprehensive financial reporting system, FI$Cal, was supposed to be finished already, but is over-budget, late, and expected to lack some of the functions that were originally promised. As Controller, I will put an end to the Sacramento excuses and produce results. I will leverage the innovation and technology we have in our state to ensure that taxpayers have access to a best-in-class system to see these payments and understand exactly how their money is being spent.

Malia Cohen (D)

I plan to be a watchdog over California's tax dollars to ensure that communities across the state are getting the funding they deserve. I have the experience needed to do this job having served as the Budget and Finance Chair for the San Francisco Employees Retirement System, Chair of the San Francisco Board of Supervisor's Budget and Finance Committee, and Chair of the State Board of Equalization. I want to work to reduce fraud and waste in the system while also modernizing our state's technological infrastructure.

I want to bring equity and justice to the State Controller's office to reduce historic inequalities. The Controller has the ability to spotlight issues and can produce data to inform policymakers on important decisions. I have done this throughout my career. While on the Board of Supervisors, I passed legislation requiring the San Francisco Police Department to produce quarterly reports on the use of force. I've also worked to make the San Francisco budgeting process more transparent to end political payouts that hinder the process. I am committed to transparency and making decisions that help build a California where everyone thrives.

I have the values to do this job. While overseeing the San Francisco Employees Retirement System, I divested the City's pension fund from fossil fuels to reaffirm our commitment to fighting climate change. While on the board of supervisors, I cracked down on fake health centers spreading false information relating to women's reproductive health. While on the Board of Equalization, I have emphasized affordable housing and tax incentives that help minority homeowners. I am the only candidate in the race that has the values that reflect California voters.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Lanhee Chen (R)

I have a deep passion for fiscal responsibility, transparency, and government accountability. I believe that sunshine is the best disinfectant, and if we give Californians true and full transparency into how their tax dollars are spent, they will demand a more accountable and efficient state government. As Controller, I will put an end to the Sacramento excuses and produce results. I will use my audit authority to carefully examine all state and relevant local spending and leverage the innovation we have in our state to ensure that taxpayers have access to a best-in-class system to see details about all outgoing state payments.

Malia Cohen (D)

I am passionate about issues involving justice and equity. I want to create a fair and transparent financial system in the state that delivers on its promises to building a California where everyone thrives. This means holding corporations accountable for paying their fair share and improving state technological infrastructure to create a system that everyone can use. I have done this throughout my career and will continue to do so as the next Controller.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?

Lanhee Chen (R)

The Controller has the ability to audit any program of state government, and any local program that spends state funds.

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

Lanhee Chen (R)

With my deep experience in policy making, academia and business, and a strong belief in the values of fiscal responsibility, transparency, and independence, I believe I have the background to successfully serve as California’s next State Controller. After earning four degrees from Harvard University, including a law degree and doctorate in political science, I served in senior roles in both Republican and Democratic presidential administrations, working directly on fiscal issues like Social Security and health care. I have been a highly sought-after voice on fiscal policy issues for many years and my commentary has appeared in major newspapers across the country and on television networks in the US and around the world.

My approach is decidedly non-ideological, and pragmatic, while my personal background demonstrates success in working with leaders from all parts of the political spectrum. I have experience leading large teams across multiple sectors. I believe in leading by example, delegating where appropriate, and working closely with experts within and outside of government to ensure we are instituting best practices. I do not believe in silos on the teams I lead, and will foster an inclusive and respectful environment in the State Controller’s office. I lead by example, demonstrate the work ethic I expect of those who work with me, and keep my team organized and on the same page. At the same time, I find the strengths in my team members and give everyone an opportunity to thrive in their individual roles.

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

Lanhee Chen (R)

The California State Controller is the chief fiscal and financial officer of our state. The Controller has the ability to audit any program of state government, and any local program that spends state funds. I believe that to bring order to California’s fiscal house, the Controller must be devoted to radical transparency and fiercely independent. It is not enough to simply rubber stamp government spending and get the money out the door. The controller should be using the office to aggressively audit programs to make sure that taxpayers are getting value for their money, not just throwing good money after bad.

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

Lanhee Chen (R)

The Space Shuttle Challenger explosion. It happened on my dad’s birthday in 1986 and I was 7 at the time.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Lanhee Chen (R)

Three-Ring Circus, by Jeff Pearlman. I am a rabid Los Angeles Lakers fan and this book tells the story of Lakers teams in the late 1990s and early 2000s, as well as players from that era who I followed closely, like Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant.

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

Lanhee Chen (R)

The Controller’s office maintains an online database of unclaimed property held by the state of California. Unclaimed property includes uncashed checks, wages, stocks, safe deposit boxes and insurance benefits, among other things. As of 2021 the state was holding $9.3 billion in unclaimed property.

What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?

Lanhee Chen (R)

With my deep experience in government, academia and business, and a strong belief in the values of fiscal responsibility, transparency, and independence, I am a natural fit for the position of California State Controller. After earning four degrees from Harvard University, including a law degree and doctorate in political science, I served in senior roles in both Republican and Democratic presidential administrations, working directly on fiscal issues like Social Security and health care. I have been a highly sought-after voice on fiscal policy issues for many years and my commentary has appeared in major newspapers across the country and on television networks in the US and around the world.

I currently teach at Stanford University, where I have also conducted research at the Hoover Institution, a public policy think tank. I built my own small business, which focuses on providing advice on fiscal and other public policy issues to leaders in both the public and private sectors. I have been a private equity and venture capital investor who works with entrepreneurs to help them grow their businesses and create new jobs. I am currently the Chairman and serve on the Compliance and Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of El Camino Health, a Northern California health care system.

Not only do these experiences uniquely qualify me for this office, but they are a necessary expertise for a successful California Controller to have.

Campaign advertisements

This section includes a selection of up to three campaign advertisements per candidate released in this race, as well as links to candidates' YouTube, Vimeo, and/or Facebook video pages. If you are aware of other links that should be included, please email us.

Malia Cohen

Have a link to Malia Cohen's campaign ads on YouTube? Email us.

• Facebook

Lanhee Chen

August 4, 2022

July 25, 2022

May 31, 2022

View more ads here:

• YouTube
• Facebook
• Twitter

Election competitiveness

Polls

See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls

We provide results for polls that are included in polling aggregation from FiveThirtyEight and RealClearPolitics, when available. No polls were available for this election. To notify us of polls published in this election, please email us.

Endorsements

See also: Ballotpedia: Our approach to covering endorsements

Click the links below to see official endorsement lists published on candidate campaign websites for any candidates that make that information available. If you are aware of a website that should be included, please email us.

• Malia Cohen
• Lanhee Chen

Election spending

Satellite spending

See also: Satellite spending

Satellite spending describes political spending not controlled by candidates or their campaigns; that is, any political expenditures made by groups or individuals that are not directly affiliated with a candidate. This includes spending by political party committees, super PACs, trade associations, and 501(c)(4) nonprofit groups.

If available, this section includes links to online resources tracking satellite spending in this election. To notify us of a resource to add, email us.

By candidate	By election
Malia Cohen Lanhee Chen	California Secretary of State's Office

Election analysis

Click the tabs below to view information about demographics, past elections, and partisan control of the state.

• Presidential elections - Information about presidential elections in the state.
• Statewide elections - Information about recent U.S. Senate and gubernatorial elections in the state.
• State partisanship - The partisan makeup of the state's congressional delegation and state government.
• Demographics - Information about the state's demographics and how they compare to the country as a whole.

Presidential elections

See also: Presidential voting trends in California and The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index

Cook PVI by congressional district

Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index for California, 2022
District	Incumbent	Party	PVI
California's 1st	Doug LaMalfa	Republican	R+12
California's 2nd	Jared Huffman	Democratic	D+23
California's 3rd	Open	Republican	R+4
California's 4th	Mike Thompson	Democratic	D+17
California's 5th	Tom McClintock	Republican	R+9
California's 6th	Ami Bera	Democratic	D+7
California's 7th	Doris Matsui	Democratic	D+17
California's 8th	John Garamendi	Democratic	D+26
California's 9th	Josh Harder	Democratic	D+5
California's 10th	Mark DeSaulnier	Democratic	D+18
California's 11th	Nancy Pelosi	Democratic	D+37
California's 12th	Barbara Lee	Democratic	D+40
California's 13th	Open	Democratic	D+4
California's 14th	Eric Swalwell	Democratic	D+22
California's 15th	Open	Democratic	D+28
California's 16th	Anna Eshoo	Democratic	D+26
California's 17th	Ro Khanna	Democratic	D+23
California's 18th	Zoe Lofgren	Democratic	D+21
California's 19th	Jimmy Panetta	Democratic	D+18
California's 20th	Kevin McCarthy	Republican	R+16
California's 21st	Jim Costa	Democratic	D+9
California's 22nd	David Valadao	Republican	D+5
California's 23rd	Jay Obernolte	Republican	R+8
California's 24th	Salud Carbajal	Democratic	D+13
California's 25th	Raul Ruiz	Democratic	D+6
California's 26th	Julia Brownley	Democratic	D+8
California's 27th	Mike Garcia	Republican	D+4
California's 28th	Judy Chu	Democratic	D+16
California's 29th	Tony Cardenas	Democratic	D+26
California's 30th	Adam Schiff	Democratic	D+23
California's 31st	Grace Napolitano	Democratic	D+15
California's 32nd	Brad Sherman	Democratic	D+20
California's 33rd	Pete Aguilar	Democratic	D+12
California's 34th	Jimmy Gomez	Democratic	D+32
California's 35th	Norma Torres	Democratic	D+13
California's 36th	Ted Lieu	Democratic	D+21
California's 37th	Open	Democratic	D+37
California's 38th	Linda Sanchez	Democratic	D+14
California's 39th	Mark Takano	Democratic	D+12
California's 40th	Young Kim	Republican	R+2
California's 41st	Ken Calvert	Republican	R+3
California's 42nd	Open	Democratic	D+22
California's 43rd	Maxine Waters	Democratic	D+32
California's 44th	Nanette Barragan	Democratic	D+24
California's 45th	Michelle Steel	Republican	D+2
California's 46th	Lou Correa	Democratic	D+15
California's 47th	Katie Porter	Democratic	D+3
California's 48th	Darrell Issa	Republican	R+9
California's 49th	Mike Levin	Democratic	D+3
California's 50th	Scott Peters	Democratic	D+14
California's 51st	Sara Jacobs	Democratic	D+12
California's 52nd	Juan Vargas	Democratic	D+18

2020 presidential results by 2022 congressional district lines

2020 presidential results in congressional districts based on 2022 district lines, California
District	Joe Biden	Donald Trump
California's 1st	39.2%	58.3%
California's 2nd	73.5%	24.0%
California's 3rd	47.9%	49.7%
California's 4th	67.1%	30.5%
California's 5th	42.7%	55.0%
California's 6th	57.9%	39.4%
California's 7th	67.4%	30.3%
California's 8th	76.0%	22.0%
California's 9th	55.2%	42.6%
California's 10th	68.6%	29.3%
California's 11th	86.3%	11.7%
California's 12th	89.3%	8.6%
California's 13th	54.3%	43.4%
California's 14th	71.7%	26.2%
California's 15th	77.7%	20.4%
California's 16th	75.4%	22.4%
California's 17th	72.7%	25.3%
California's 18th	71.0%	26.9%
California's 19th	68.7%	29.1%
California's 20th	36.4%	61.3%
California's 21st	59.1%	38.8%
California's 22nd	55.3%	42.3%
California's 23rd	43.9%	53.7%
California's 24th	63.3%	34.3%
California's 25th	56.7%	41.4%
California's 26th	58.9%	39.0%
California's 27th	55.1%	42.7%
California's 28th	66.1%	31.9%
California's 29th	74.5%	23.2%
California's 30th	72.2%	26.0%
California's 31st	64.5%	33.4%
California's 32nd	69.5%	28.7%
California's 33rd	61.5%	36.2%
California's 34th	81.0%	16.7%
California's 35th	62.7%	35.1%
California's 36th	71.0%	26.9%
California's 37th	85.7%	12.4%
California's 38th	64.1%	33.9%
California's 39th	62.0%	35.8%
California's 40th	49.9%	48.0%
California's 41st	48.6%	49.7%
California's 42nd	71.7%	25.9%
California's 43rd	80.8%	17.0%
California's 44th	72.9%	24.7%
California's 45th	52.1%	46.0%
California's 46th	64.1%	33.7%
California's 47th	54.5%	43.4%
California's 48th	42.7%	55.0%
California's 49th	54.6%	43.2%
California's 50th	65.4%	32.2%
California's 51st	62.5%	35.2%
California's 52nd	67.4%	30.5%

2012-2020

How a state's counties vote in a presidential election and the size of those counties can provide additional insights into election outcomes at other levels of government including statewide and congressional races. Below, four categories are used to describe each county's voting pattern over the 2012, 2016, and 2020 presidential elections: Solid, Trending, Battleground, and New. Click [show] on the table below for examples:

County-level voting pattern categories
Democratic
Status	2012	2016	2020
Solid Democratic	D	D	D
Trending Democratic	R	D	D
Battleground Democratic	D	R	D
New Democratic	R	R	D
Republican
Status	2012	2016	2020
Solid Republican	R	R	R
Trending Republican	D	R	R
Battleground Republican	R	D	R
New Republican	D	D	R

Following the 2020 presidential election, 83.3% of Californians lived in one of the state's 31 Solid Democratic counties, which voted for the Democratic presidential candidate in every election from 2012 to 2020, and 8.3% lived in one of two Trending Democratic counties: Nevada and Orange. Overall, California was Solid Democratic, having voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2012, Hillary Clinton (D) in 2016, and Joe Biden (D) in 2020. Use the table below to view the total number of each type of county in California following the 2020 election as well as the overall percentage of the state population located in each county type.

California county-level statistics, 2020
Solid Democratic	31	83.3%
Trending Democratic	2	8.3%
Solid Republican	23	7.8%
New Democratic	2	0.6%
Total voted Democratic	35	92.2%
Total voted Republican	23	7.8%

Historical voting trends

California presidential election results (1900-2020)

• 15 Democratic wins
• 15 Republican wins
• 1 other win

Year	1900	1904	1908	1912	1916	1920	1924	1928	1932	1936	1940	1944	1948	1952	1956	1960	1964	1968	1972	1976	1980	1984	1988	1992	1996	2000	2004	2008	2012	2016	2020
Winning Party	R	R	R	P	D	R	R	R	D	D	D	D	D	R	R	R	D	R	R	R	R	R	R	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D

Statewide elections

This section details the results of the five most recent U.S. Senate and gubernatorial elections held in the state.

U.S. Senate elections

See also: List of United States Senators from California

The table below details the vote in the five most recent U.S. Senate races in California.

U.S. Senate election results in California
Race	Winner	Runner up
2018	54.2%	45.8%
2016	61.8%	38.2%
2012	62.5%	37.5%
2010	52.1%	42.5%
2006	59.4%	35.2%
Average	58.0	39.8

Gubernatorial elections

See also: Governor of California

The table below details the vote in the five most recent gubernatorial elections in California.

Gubernatorial election results in California
Race	Winner	Runner up
2018	61.9%	38.1%
2014	60.0%	40.0%
2010	53.8%	40.9%
2006	55.9%	38.9%
2003	48.6%	31.5%
Average	56.0	37.9

State partisanship

Congressional delegation

The table below displays the partisan composition of California's congressional delegation as of November 2022.

Congressional Partisan Breakdown from California, November 2022
Party	U.S. Senate	U.S. House	Total
Democratic	2	42	44
Republican	0	11	11
Independent	0	0	0
Vacancies	0	0	0
Total	2	53	55

State executive

The table below displays the officeholders in California's top four state executive offices as of November 2022.

State executive officials in California, November 2022
Office	Officeholder
Governor	Gavin Newsom
Lieutenant Governor	Eleni Kounalakis
Secretary of State	Shirley Weber
Attorney General	Rob Bonta

State legislature

The tables below highlight the partisan composition of the California State Legislature as of November 2022.

California State Senate

Party		As of November 2022
	Democratic Party	31
	Republican Party	9
	Vacancies	0
Total		40

California State Assembly

Party		As of November 2022
	Democratic Party	60
	Republican Party	19
	Independent	1
	Vacancies	0
Total		80

Trifecta control

As of November 2022, California was a Democratic trifecta, with majorities in both chambers of the state legislature and control of the governorship. The table below displays the historical trifecta status of the state.

California Party Control: 1992-2022
Seventeen years of Democratic trifectas  •  No Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year	92	93	94	95	96	97	98	99	00	01	02	03	04	05	06	07	08	09	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22
Governor	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	D	D	D	D	D	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D
Senate	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D
Assembly	D	D	D	S	R	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D

Demographics

The table below details demographic data in California and compares it to the broader United States as of 2019.

Demographic Data for California
	California	United States
Population	39,538,223	331,449,281
Land area (sq mi)	155,857	3,531,905
Race and ethnicity**
White	56.1%	70.4%
Black/African American	5.7%	12.6%
Asian	14.8%	5.6%
Native American	0.8%	0.8%
Pacific Islander	0.4%	0.2%
Other (single race)	14.3%	5.1%
Multiple	7.9%	5.2%
Hispanic/Latino	39.1%	18.2%
Education
High school graduation rate	83.9%	88.5%
College graduation rate	34.7%	32.9%
Income
Median household income	$78,672	$64,994
Persons below poverty level	12.6%	12.8%
Source: population provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "Decennial Census" (2020). Other figures provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2015-2020).
**Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.

Election context

Environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG)

See also: Environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG)

Environmental, social, and corporate governance
Select a topic from the dropdown below to learn more. Economy and Society: Ballotpedia's weekly ESG newsletterEnvironmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG)Key terms (ESG)Materiality (ESG)Opposition to ESGSocially responsible investingSustainabilitySubmit

In the context of public policy, environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) refers to the use of non-financial factors in the creation of policy and management of public funds. In considering ESG, public fund managers might require investing only in companies that support certain standards with respect to renewable energy, natural resources, pollution, carbon emissions, and biodiversity; social positions like diversity, equity and inclusion; and diversity in governing bodies.

ESG investing stands in contrast to an investment approach based on the likely maximization of financial returns to the investor.

Although ESG is an approach to investing, it has political overtones. Politicians, particularly from the Republican Party, argue that large ESG-oriented financial firms are abusing their power in order to advance a liberal political agenda in the areas of climate change, social justice, and diversity. Opponents have also characterized ESG investing as "...investment designed not to maximize financial returns but to impose a leftist social and economic agenda that cannot otherwise be implemented through the ballot box." Opponents also argue that focusing on ESG factors has led to "lackluster financial results" that have had a harmful impact on the rate of return to beneficiaries of state public pension plans. Click here to read more about opposition to ESG.

Supporters of ESG investing argue that in the long run, ESG investing will lead to acceptable financial returns. ESG advocates say that ESG and profit are not mutually exclusive. Supporters of ESG also argue that corporations should adopt ESG philosophies and approaches to achieve what they view as positive outcomes. Click here to read more about support for ESG.

ESG issues in this election

See also: Statements about ESG investing by State Financial Officer candidates on the November 8, 2022 ballot

Malia Cohen (D) and Lanhee Chen (R), who ran for California controller, made the following statements on ESG-related issues in this election. Below are samples of quotes from candidates in this election on issues relevant to ESG and state government. If you are aware of a statement that should be included, please email us.

• Climate change and carbon emissions (click to expand)
  The statements below relate to climate change and carbon emissions.

  • Chen said his views on climate change “developed and matured.” Chen said, “The more that I have looked at the issue, the more that I have read about it, the more that I have understood the issue, the more I see we do have a role to play in this state,” he said. “While I don’t agree with 100% of what the state has done over the years, I do think that that’s an area where I have become, in my view, much more of the perspective that we can and should move the needle where we can.”

• Equity (click to expand)
  The statements below relate to equity, or policies relating to equity in the government's allocation of services and resources or the treatment of individuals under the law.

  • Cohen said, “I think that we need to have more diversity, I think we need to have more conversations about equity, what that looks like in the distribution of tax dollars….I don’t want to see strong programs, child care programs, educational programs after-school programs, food programs not get funded because they don’t have a lobbyist, they don’t have an advocate.”

• Financial and accounting transparency (click to expand)
  The statements below relate to financial and accounting transparency.

  • Cohen said she would "make sure that big corporations like Amazon don’t snake through loopholes and that they’re paying their fair share when it comes to property taxes,” adding, “I say making sure that corporations like PG&E…[are] paying their fair share in taxes. Small taxpayers, people who own their homes, they’re paying their taxes, and we want to be very fair and very consistent and also transparent.”

  • Chen said, "As Controller, I will fight to ensure that our state’s public pension funds, CalPERS and CalSTRS, clearly tell taxpayers how much they will owe once retirement benefits for current and former government employees come due."

Ballot access requirements

See statutes: 8020-8028 and Section 8100-8107 of the California Elections Code

Before accepting or spending money related to campaigning for office, a candidate for state office must file a candidate intention statement with the California Secretary of State. Note that this requirement does not apply to candidates for congressional office; federal campaign finance requirements apply to candidates for federal office. Candidates may qualify to run for office either by paying a filing fee or by submitting a petition in lieu of the filing fee.

In addition to the candidate intention statement, a candidate is required to file nomination forms with his or her home county. These forms become available as early as the 113th day prior to the primary election and must be filed no later than the 88th day prior to the primary election.

Nomination forms include a statement of economic interests, a declaration of candidacy, and nomination papers. Nomination papers require a certain number of signatures from registered voters. If a candidate qualifies by submitting an in-lieu-of-filing-fee petition, the signatures on that petition will be counted towards the requirement for the nomination paper. Registered voters may sign both the in-lieu-of-filing-fee petition and the nomination paper, unless the candidate is using the signatures on the in-lieu-of-filing-fee petition to count toward the nomination paper requirement. If that is the case, a registered voter can sign only one of the documents.

The number of signatures required for nomination papers are as follows:

• 65-100 for candidates seeking the office of United States Senator or a state executive office
• 40-60 for candidates seeking the office of United States Representative, state senator, or state assembly member

If an individual is running as a write-in candidate, the only nomination forms required are the nomination papers and a statement of write-in candidacy. These forms should be filed in the candidate's home county.

Qualifying by payment of fee

The filing fee for a candidate seeking a seat in the United States Senate or a state executive office (e.g., governor or treasurer) is 2 percent of the first year's salary for that office. The filing fee for a candidate seeking the office of United States Representative, state senator, or state assembly member is 1 percent of the first year's salary for that office. The fee is paid to the California Secretary of State through the candidate's home county election office.

Qualifying by petition in lieu of filing fee

Instead of paying a filing fee, a candidate may submit a petition. Signatures may be collected to cover all or any prorated portion of the filing fee.

A candidate seeking the office of state assembly member must file signatures from 1,000 registered voters. Those seeking the office of state senator or United States Representative must file 2,000 signatures, and those seeking statewide office must file 7,000 signatures.

If the number of registered voters in the district in which the candidate seeks nomination is less than 2,000, a candidate may submit a petition containing four signatures for each dollar of the filing fee, or 20 percent of the total number of registered voters in the district in which he or she seeks nomination, whichever is less.

Completed petitions must be submitted 15 days before the end of the qualifying period to the counties in which the signers reside.

Election history

2018

See also: California Controller election, 2018

General election

General election for California Controller

Incumbent Betty Yee defeated Konstantinos Roditis in the general election for California Controller on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Betty Yee (D)	65.5	8,013,067
		Konstantinos Roditis (R)	34.5	4,229,480

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 12,242,547 (100.00% precincts reporting)
= 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.

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for California Controller

Incumbent Betty Yee and Konstantinos Roditis defeated Mary Lou Finley in the primary for California Controller on June 5, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Betty Yee (D)	62.1	4,033,197
✔		Konstantinos Roditis (R)	33.9	2,200,926
		Mary Lou Finley (Peace and Freedom Party)	4.0	261,876

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 6,495,999
= 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.

2014

See also: California down ballot state executive elections, 2014

California Controller, 2014
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Betty Yee	54%	3,810,304
	Republican	Ashley Swearengin	46%	3,249,668
Total Votes				7,059,972
Election results via California Secretary of State

2022 battleground elections

See also: Battlegrounds

This election was a battleground race. Other 2022 battleground elections included:

• Chesa Boudin recall, San Francisco, California (2021-2022)
• Kansas Treasurer election, 2022
• Nevada Secretary of State election, 2022
• North Carolina's 13th Congressional District election, 2022
• Wisconsin gubernatorial election, 2022 (August 9 Republican primary)

External links

• Search Google News for this topic
• California controller official website

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