Election results, 2022: State financial officers
On November 8, 2022, voters either directly or indirectly decided who would control 68 of the 105 state financial officerships (SFOs) nationwide (65%).
Different states have different names for these elected officials, but they all fall into three groups: treasurers, auditors, and controllers. Broadly, these officials are responsible for things like auditing other government offices, managing payroll, and overseeing pensions. In some states, certain SFOs are also responsible for investing state retirement and trust funds, meaning they get to decide where that public money goes.
The SFO offices that voters affected in the 2022 election included:
- 50 offices directly elected by voters.
- Nine offices where the current term ended in 2023 or 2024 that would be filled by the governors or legislators elected.
- Nine offices that did not have a term length but served at the pleasure of elected officials up for election.
At the time of the November 8 election, there were:
- 42 SFOs who were Democrats or were appointed by Democrats;
- 56 SFOs who were Republicans or were appointed by Republicans;
- Seven SFOs who were appointed by a combination of Democrats and Republicans or who were appointed by non-elected appointees or multi-member boards.
After the November 8 election, there were:
- 39 elected Democrats or positions that are expected to be appointed by Democrats;
- 60 elected Republicans or positions that are expected to be appointed by Republicans;
- Six SFOs who are expected to be appointed by a combination of Democrats and Republicans or who are appointed by non-elected appointees or multi-member boards.
Of the positions affected by the 2022 election, Democrats won 21 out of 50 directly elected positions and Republicans won 29.
The following positions changed or are expected to change, either as a result of direct election in 2022 or through a partisan change in an appointing entity: Iowa Treasurer of State, Kansas Treasurer, Missouri State Auditor, Nevada Controller, Wisconsin Treasurer, Massachusetts Comptroller of the Commonwealth, and Minnesota Commissioner of Management and Budget.
On this page you will find:
- Partisan balance of state financial officers
- State financial officer seats up for election in 2022
- Notable state financial officer elections
- Information about state financial officers
Recent news
All times are Eastern Standard Time.
December 2
- 3:00 p.m.: Incumbent Rob Sand (D) defeated Todd Halbur (R) in the race for Iowa state auditor.
November 17
- 5:00 p.m.: Incumbent Julie Blaha (D) defeated Ryan Wilson (R), Will Finn (Grassroots-Legalize Cannabis Party of Minnesota), and Tim Davis (Legal Marijuana Now Party) in the race for Minnesota state auditor.
- 11:00 a.m.: Malia Cohen (D) defeated Lanhee Chen (R) in the race for California controller.
November 12
- 6:00 a.m.: Andy Matthews (R) defeated Ellen Spiegel (D) and Jed Profeta (L) in the race for Nevada controller.
November 9
- 3:00 p.m.: John Leiber (R) defeated Aaron Richardson (D) in the race for Wisconsin treasurer. Incumbent Sarah Godlewski (D), who has held the position since 2019, ran for election to the U.S. Senate to represent Wisconsin. She lost in the Democratic primary on August 9, 2022.
- 1:55 p.m.: Roby Smith (R) defeated incumbent Michael L. Fitzgerald (D) in the race for Iowa treasurer. Fitzgerald has held the position since 1983.
- 2:20 a.m.: Incumbent Dave Young (D) defeated Lang Sias (R) and Anthony Delgado (L) in the race for Colorado treasurer.
- 12:50 a.m.: Scott Fitzpatrick (R) defeated Alan Green (D) and John Hartwig (L) in the race for Missouri auditor. Incumbent Nicole Galloway (D), who held the office since 2019, announced in June 2021 that she would not seek re-election.
- 12:40 a.m.: Brooke Elizabeth Lierman (D) defeated Barry Glassman (R) in the race for Maryland comptroller.
- 12:15 a.m.: Steven C. Johnson (R) defeated incumbent Lynn Rogers (D) in the race for Kansas treasurer. Rogers has held the office since 2021.
Partisan balance
The table below shows a breakdown of the political parties pertaining to the state executive offices of auditor, controller, and treasurer before and after the 2022 general election. For other state executive offices, click here.
Pre-election partisan balance of all state financial officer positions
Heading into the November 8 election, there were:
- 42 SFOs who were Democrats or were appointed by Democrats;
- 56 SFOs who were Republicans or were appointed by Republicans;
- Three SFOs who were appointed by a combination of Democrats and Republicans, listed as other; and,
- Four SFOs who were appointed by non-elected appointees or multi-member boards, also listed as other.
Among the offices decided in November, Democrats and Republicans both held 33, and two positions were marked as other because appointment authority was split between Democrats and Republicans.
Pre-election partisan balance of all directly elected state financial officer positions
Heading into the November 8 election, there were:
- 50 total SFOs up for direct election;
- 26 elections for treasurer;
- 13 held by Democrats and 13 held by Republicans;
- 15 elections for auditor;
- Seven held by Democrats and eight held by Republicans;
- Nine elections for auditor;
- Six held by Democrats and three held by Republicans.
Post-election partisan balance
Among the 50 directly-elected offices on the ballot on November 8:
Republicans gained five offices that Democrats currently control, defeating two incumbents in the process.
The remaining 18 officers are appointed by different means.
Democrats gained full appointment authority over two offices: Massachusetts, where a Republican appointee’s term is expiring, and Minnesota, where the current appointee’s affiliation is unclear.
The table below shows partisan control before and after the election for all 105 state financial officerships, including those that were not decided on November 8.
List of state financial officer elections
- See also: State executive official elections, 2022
In 2022, either directly or indirectly, voters decided control of 68 out of the 105 state financial officerships nationwide (65%).
- Direct elections: voters directly elected 50 SFOs in 2022. Fourteen were set to be on the ballot in 2024.
- Appointees with expiring terms: nine SFOs’ terms were set to expire in 2023 or 2024, with decision-making power for the next term falling to the governors and legislators voters elected in November.
- Contingent appointees: nine SFOs’ didn't have a term length, but instead serve at the pleasure of elected officials who were on the ballot in 2022. If an elected official loses or the office switches party control, their predecessor decided whether to keep those SFOs or appoint new ones.
- Other: four SFOs’ terms were contingent upon either a non-elected appointee or a multi-member board.
State financial officer seats up for direct election
There were 24 Republican and 26 Democratic seats up for direct election in 2022. The table and map below show which states held state financial officer elections in 2022.
Auditor
There were 15 state auditor positions up for direct election in 2022. Of these, seven were held by Democrats, and eight were held by Republicans.
One office, Missouri State Auditor, changed partisan control, going from Democratic to Republican.
Controller
There were nine state controller positions up for direct election in 2022. Of these, six were held by Democrats and three were held by Republicans.
One office, Nevada Controller, changed partisan control, going from Democratic to Republican.
| Controller elections, 2022 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Office | Incumbent | Year assumed office | MOV in previous election | State MOV in 2020 presidential election | 2022 Winner | 2022 MoV |
| California Controller |  Betty Yee |
2015 | D+31 | D+29.2 | Malia Cohen |
D+9.4 |
| Connecticut Comptroller | Natalie Braswell |
2021 | N/A | D+20.1 | Sean Scanlon |
D+10 |
| Idaho Controller |  Brandon Woolf |
2012 | R+100 | R+30.8 | Brandon Woolf |
R+42.6 |
| Illinois Comptroller | Susana Mendoza |
2016 | D+22.9 | D+17 | Susana Mendoza |
D+15.1 |
| Maryland Comptroller | Peter Franchot |
2007 | D+44.3 | D+33.2 | Brooke Lierman |
D+13.7 |
| Nevada Controller | Catherine Byrne |
2019 | D+4.4 | D+2.4 | Andy Matthews |
R+47.9 |
| New York Comptroller | Thomas P. DiNapoli |
2007 | D+35.6 | D+23.1 | Thomas P. DiNapoli |
D+13.5 |
| South Carolina Comptroller General | Richard Eckstrom |
2003 | R+95.6 | R+11.7 | Richard Eckstrom |
N/A[3] |
| Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts | Glenn Hegar |
2015 | R+9.8 | D+23.1 | Glenn Hegar |
R+17.3 |
Treasurer
There were 26 state treasurer positions up for direct election in 2022. Of these, 13 were held by Democrats, and 13 were held by Republicans.
Three offices, Iowa Treasurer of State, Kansas Treasurer, and Wisconsin Treasurer, changed party control. All three changed from Democratic to Republican control.
Appointed state financial officer seats
Of the 18 appointed SFO positions potentially affected by the 2022 election, there were six Democrat-appointed SFOs, 10 Republican-appointed SFOs, and two SFOs appointed by a combination of Democrats and Republicans or by non-elected appointees or multi-member boards. The table and map below show which states had appointed state financial officer elections in 2022.
Auditor
| Auditor appointments, 2022 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Office | Incumbent | Year assumed office | Appointment method | Expected partisanship after 2022 election | ||
| Arizona Auditor General | Lindsey Perry |
2018 | Appointed by Joint Legislative Audit Committee | R
| ||
| California State Auditor | Michael Tilden |
2021 | Appointed by governor | D
| ||
| Illinois Auditor General | Frank J. Mautino |
2016 | Legislative election | D
| ||
| Indiana State Examiner | Paul Joyce |
2013 | Appointed by governor | R
| ||
| Rhode Island Auditor General | Dennis Hoyle |
2010 | Appointed by Joint Committee on Legislative Services | D
| ||
| Texas State Auditor | Lisa Collier |
2016 | Appointed by Legislative Audit Committee | R
| ||
| Wisconsin State Auditor | Joe Chrisman |
2011 | Appointed by Joint Committee on Legislative Organization | R
| ||
| Wyoming Department of Audit Director | Justin Chavez |
2021 | Appointed by governor, secretary of state, and treasurer with consent of the senate | R
| ||
Controller
| Controller appointments, 2022 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Office | Incumbent | Year assumed office | Appointment method | Expected partisanship after 2022 election |
| Alaska Comptroller | Kayla Wisner |
2019 | Appointed by governor | R
|
| Massachusetts Comptroller of the Commonwealth | Bill McNamara |
2020 | Appointed by governor | D
|
| New Hampshire State Comptroller | Dana Call |
2017 | Appointed by governor | R
|
| New Mexico State Controller | Donna Trujillo |
2019 | Appointed by governor | D
|
Treasurer
| Treasurer appointments, 2022 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Office | Incumbent | Year assumed office | Appointment method | Expected partisanship after 2022 election |
| Alaska Commissioner of the Department of Revenue |  Deven Mitchell |
2022 | Appointed by governor, confirmed by legislature | TBD |
| Hawaii Director of Finance | Craig Hirai |
2019 | Appointed by governor, confirmed by senate | D
|
| Michigan Treasurer | Rachael Eubanks |
2019 | Appointed by governor | D
|
| Minnesota Commissioner of Management and Budget | Jim Schowalter |
2020 | Appointed by governor, confirmed by senate | D
|
| Montana Director of the Department of Revenue | Brendan Beatty |
2021 | Appointed by governor, confirmed by senate | R
|
Margin of victory
The margin of victory for each race is calculated by examining the percentage difference between the two candidates who received the most votes. If the race was uncontested, the margin of victory is listed as 100%. Some quick facts:
- There were 15 races decided by 10 percentage points or fewer, and four of these races were decided by five percentage points or fewer.
- Of the 15 races decided by 10 percentage points or fewer, three were won by Republicans, and 12 were won by Democrats. Two of the races resulted in a change of partisan, both going from Democratic to Republican.
- The closest race was for Iowa Auditor, where Rob Sand (D) defeated Todd Halbur (R) by 0.2%.
The table below shows the 15 SFO elections decided by 10 or fewer percentage points in 2022.
Notable elections
Ballotpedia identified eight of the 50 state financial officer elections in 2022 as notable: California controller, Colorado treasurer, Iowa auditor, Iowa treasurer, Kansas treasurer, Maryland comptroller, Minnesota auditor, and Missouri auditor.
Each of these elections involved conflicts over environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) issues. In the context of public policy, 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.[5]
Of these eight elections, three are for auditor, two are for controller, and three are for treasurer. All eight of these battlegrounds are in states with Democratic incumbents. Two of the elections are in states with Democratic trifectas, three are in states with Republican trifectas, and three are in states with divided governments. Three elections are in states with Democratic triplexes, one is in a state with a Republican triplex, and four are in states with divided governments.
Click below to see a summary of these elections.
About the offices
- See also: State executive officials
Auditor
- See also: Auditor (state executive office)
The auditor is a state-level position in 48 states that supervises and has administrative rights over the accounting and financial functions of the state. Additionally, auditors act as watchdogs over other state agencies, performing internal government audits and investigating fraud allegations.
The state auditor belongs to either the executive or legislative branch, depending on state. While both offices are similar in function, a legislative auditor functions primarily under the state legislature and is not considered a state executive office.
The auditor may be elected or appointed, depending on the state. Terms of office range from four to 10 years and may be indefinite, served at the pleasure of the appointing body. In instances where the auditor is an appointee, appointment is usually done through some form of nomination in a subcommittee of the legislature and a confirmatory vote before the General Assembly.
Some states assign the same portfolio to another state level financial officer, such as the treasurer or the comptroller.
There are a total of 23 legislative auditor offices and 33 state executive auditor offices. A total of eight states have both auditor offices.
Comptroller
- See also: Controller (state executive office)
Controller, also known as comptroller, is a state-level position in 19 states. Most controllers and comptrollers share duties similar to state treasurers, exercising varying powers related to budgetary and management matters.
The controller is popularly elected in nine states, appointed by the governor in another nine, and appointed by the state legislature in Tennessee. In 2017, controller salaries ranged from $92,007 in South Carolina to $195,972 in Tennessee.
Treasurer
- See also: Treasurer (state executive office)
In the United States, the treasurer of a state is the official charged with overseeing revenue and finances and generally acting as the state's chief banker. Every state in the United States has a treasurer, though some have a different official title for the office. In New York and Texas there is no treasurer—instead, those duties are performed by the controller.
Most states elect the treasurer; of those states, it is common for treasurer to be a constitutional executive office. Some states, however, treat the position as a member of the governor's cabinet, thus making the position a gubernatorial appointment.
The position of state treasurer exists in 48 states; it is elected in 36 and appointed in 12. Of the 12 states to appoint state treasurers, the governor is responsible for appointment in eight while the legislature is responsible in the other four. In 2017, state treasurer salaries ranged from $195,972 in Tennessee to $68,500 in Colorado.
As opposed to treasurers in the corporate world, state treasurers are often elected partisan offices who administer various programs and have control over financial decisions without being involved in the highly detailed day-to-day bookkeeping and accounting.
In some states, the treasurer may share financial duties with a comptroller, a chief financial officer or an auditor. Areas that often fall under a treasurer's job description include:
- Debt management and debt policy
- Disaster preparation
- Pension fund administration
- Oversight to prevent fraud with public money
- Payroll matters for public employees
- Investing public funds and managing portfolios
See also
- State executive official elections, 2022
- Auditor (state executive office)
- Controller (state executive office)
- Treasurer (state executive office)
- Election results, 2022: State supreme courts
- Election results, 2022: State legislative margin of victory analysis
- Election results, 2023: State financial officers
Footnotes
- ↑ Byrd won re-election in the Republican primary on June 28, 2022, after the general election was canceled.
- ↑ Racines ran uncontested in the general election.
- ↑ Eckstrom ran uncontested in both the primary and general elections.
- ↑ Meier ran unopposed in the general election.
- ↑ Baker Tilly, "ESG matters: an ESG primer for state and local government leaders," accessed February 3, 2022
- ↑ Rob Sand for State Auditor, "About," accessed September 16, 2022
- ↑ Rob Sand for State Auditor, "Issues," accessed September 16, 2022
- ↑ Todd Halbur for State Auditor, "About, accessed September 17, 2022
- ↑ Iowa Auditor of State, "About us," accessed January 21, 2021
- ↑ Iowans for Fitzgerald, "Home," accessed September 12, 2022
- ↑ Roby Smith, "About," accessed September 12, 2022
- ↑ Roby Smith, "Issues," accessed September 12, 2022
- ↑ Iowa Capital Dispatch, "Political Soapbox: Here’s what candidates are saying at the Iowa State Fair," August 20, 2022
- ↑ KIOW, "Treasurer Fitzgerald Announces $10 Million Israel Bond Purchase," September 7, 2022
- ↑ Des Moines Register, "GOP state Sen. Roby Smith to run for Iowa state treasurer, challenging Democrat Mike Fitzgerald," December 9, 2021
- ↑ The Gazette, "Davenport Republican Roby Smith running for state treasurer," December 9, 2021
- ↑ Iowa State Treasurer, "Our responsibilities" accessed January 24, 2021
- ↑ Malia Cohen, "About," accessed September 26, 2022
- ↑ Malia Cohen, "Issues," accessed September 26, 2022
- ↑ CalMatters, "What would Lanhee Chen do as California controller?" April 27, 2022
- ↑ Chen for California, "Meet Lanhee," accessed September 26, 2022
- ↑ The White House, "President Obama Announces Another Key Administration Post," September 30, 2013
- ↑ Chen for California, "Issues," accessed September 26, 2022
- ↑ Los Angeles Times, "Track the money flowing into the race for Controller," November 18, 2022
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 Columbian Missourian, "Missouri auditor candidates spar over independence from partisan influence," September 17, 2022
- ↑ Alan K. Green, "A Life of Service," accessed September 25, 2022
- ↑ Alan K. Green, "About," accessed September 25, 2022
- ↑ Vote Smart, "Scott Fitzpatrick's Biography," accessed September 25, 2022
- ↑ Scott Fitzpatrick for Auditor, "My Plan," accessed September 25, 2022
- ↑ Missouri State Auditor, "About us," accessed January 26, 2021
- ↑ Rogers for Kansas, "About Lynn," accessed September 29, 2022
- ↑ Lynn Roger, "Playing Games With Investments Isn’t Finance, It’s Political Pandering," October 14, 2022
- ↑ Steven Johnson KS, "Meet Steven," accessed September 29, 2022
- ↑ Steven Johnson KS, "Kansas Republican Delegation Endorses Steven Johnson," September 6, 2022
- ↑ Kansas State Treasurer, "Home Page," accessed September 29, 2022
- ↑ The Denver Post, "The statewide race Colorado Republicans feel most confident about," September 26, 2022
- ↑ Colorado Politics, "2022 COLORADO PRIMARY ELECTION GUIDE | State Treasurer," June 6, 2022
- ↑ Colorado Department of the Treasury, "About Treasurer Dave Young," accessed October 2, 2022
- ↑ Dave Young for Colorado, "Home," accessed October 3, 2022
- ↑ Lang Sias for Colorado, "Meet Lang Sias," accessed October 3, 2022
- ↑ Blaha for Auditor, "Meet Julie," September 26, 2022
- ↑ Ryan Wilson for State Auditor, "Meet Ryan," accessed September 26, 2022
- ↑ MinnPost, "Wait? There’s a ‘real issue’ in the state auditor’s race?" September 15, 2022
- ↑ Minnesota State Board, "About the SBI," accessed September 26, 2022
- ↑ Minnesota State Board, "Board Members," accessed September 26, 2022
- ↑ MinnPost, "Wait? There’s a ‘real issue’ in the state auditor’s race?" accessed September 26, 2022
- ↑ Brooke Lierman, "Meet Brooke," accessed October 29, 2022
- ↑ 48.0 48.1 Brooke Lierman, "Priorities," accessed October 29, 2022
- ↑ Brooke Lierman, "Endorsements," accessed October 31, 2022
- ↑ Maryland State Archives, "HARFORD COUNTY, MARYLAND," accessed October 29, 2022
- ↑ Barry Glassman, "Home," accessed October 29, 2022
- ↑ Barry Glassman, "Endorsement," accessed October 31, 2022
- ↑ The Washington Post, "Opinion The Post endorses Barry Glassman for Maryland comptroller," October 16, 2022
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
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