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

Republican Party

Advanced to general

Peace and Freedom Party

Eliminated in primary

  • Meghann Adams, union president of SMART Local 1741 (2020–present)[6] and candidate for state treasurer in 2022[7]

Primary election

Endorsements

Meghann Adams (PFP)
Political parties
Herb Morgan (R)
Organizations
Political parties
Newspapers

Results

Results by county
  Cohen
  •   40–50%
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  Morgan
  •   40–50%
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
Primary election results[31]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Malia Cohen (incumbent) 4,907,156 56.80
Republican Herb Morgan 3,242,533 37.53
Peace and Freedom Meghann Adams 489,297 5.67
Total votes 8,638,986 100.0

General election

Results

2026 California State Controller election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Malia Cohen (incumbent)
Republican Herb Morgan
Total votes

See also

Notes

References

  1. ↑ Nixon, Nicole (December 6, 2022). "Here's what we know about California 2022 election results". CapRadio. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
  2. ↑ Mehta, Seema (March 10, 2023). "California Republicans, buoyed by congressional wins, have no obvious Senate prospects". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
  3. ↑ Jones, Blake; Gardiner, Justin (December 20, 2024). "Why Dems are grumbling about Malia Cohen". Politico. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  4. 1 2 Mason, Melanie; Jones, Blake; Gardiner, Dustin (September 4, 2025). "SCOOP: Villaraigosa swipes at Porter and Becerra". Politico. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
  5. ↑ 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.
  6. ↑ "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.
  7. ↑ Balakrishnan, Eleni (October 8, 2025). "This Tenderloin bus driver wants to manage California's finances". Mission Local. Retrieved December 13, 2025.
  8. 1 2 "Left Unity has begun for the June 2026 primary election". December 18, 2025. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Endorsements". California Faculty Association. Retrieved April 16, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Labor 2026 Primary Election Endorsements". California Federation of Labor Unions, AFL-CIO. Retrieved April 14, 2026.
  11. ↑ "California endorsements". National Nurses United. March 22, 2018. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  12. ↑ "LA County Federation of Labor Endorsements". The LA Fed. Retrieved April 15, 2026.
  13. ↑ "2026 ELECTION ENDORSEMENTS". SEIU California. Archived from the original on February 22, 2026. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  14. ↑ "SEIU-UHW 2026 Primary Election Endorsements". SEIU United Healthcare Workers West. Archived from the original on February 8, 2026. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  15. ↑ "2026 California Endorsements" (PDF). Teamsters Joint Council 42. September 18, 2025. Retrieved October 22, 2025.
  16. ↑ Sinogui, Flo (September 11, 2025). "Teamsters Local 665 & Teamsters California Endorse State Candidates". Teamsters Local 665. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
  17. ↑ 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.
  18. ↑ "2025 Endorsements - SCC Political Committee". Sierra Club California. Retrieved October 22, 2025.
  19. ↑ Simpson, Jane. "Endorsements". Sierra Club Angeles Chapter. Retrieved December 13, 2025.
  20. ↑ "2026 November Stonewall Endorsed Candidates". Stonewall Democratic Club. Archived from the original on January 26, 2026. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
  21. ↑ "Vote Mama PAC Candidates". Vote Mama PAC. Retrieved November 25, 2025.
  22. ↑ "2026 Primary election Endorsements" (PDF). Retrieved April 3, 2026.
  23. ↑ "Editorial: Recommendations for CA offices". Bay Area Reporter. May 6, 2026. Retrieved May 22, 2026.
  24. ↑ "Endorsement: A cautious recommendation for California state controller". San Francisco Chronicle. May 21, 2026. Retrieved May 22, 2026.
  25. ↑ "The Ballot: Who We're Recommending For on June 2". Sun-Reporter. May 12, 2026. Retrieved May 22, 2026.
  26. ↑ "California 2026 Primary Endorsements from Groups & Resource Info". Fullerton Observer. May 11, 2026.
  27. ↑ Republican Party, California (April 12, 2026). "The California Republican Party has endorsed @HerbWMorgan for State Controller". California Republican Party. Retrieved April 14, 2026.
  28. ↑ City, News Service (April 12, 2026). "State Republicans fail to endorse candidate for governor". ABC10 News San Diego. Retrieved April 12, 2026.
  29. ↑ Giusto, Andrew (August 22, 2025). "Unity Party Fields California Candidates Times Two". Unity Party of America. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
  30. ↑ Editorial Board (May 4, 2026). "McClatchy endorses the Republican in California's state controller primary". The Sacramento Bee.
  31. ↑ "California Controller Primary Election Results". The New York Times. June 2, 2026. Retrieved June 2, 2026.

Official campaign websites

source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_California_State_Controller_election