Controller of California · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the California controller race?
Malia Cohen has the strongest record in the California controller race. Malia Cohen scores 65 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Herb Morgan at 59, as of October 9, 2026. Malia Cohen's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Herb Morgan's highest marks are command of the job and communication. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Democratic · incumbent
Strongest record
Malia Cohen
On the ballot as Malia M. Cohen
65 / 100
Public evidence on 12 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 45
- Qualifications
- 85
- Performance
- 63
Republican
Herb Morgan
On the ballot as Herb W Morgan
59 / 100
Public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 65
- Performance
- NR
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Malia Cohen
- Mark against2022 to 2026
Pledged in 2022 to scrutinize homelessness spending, EDD and the DMV; CalMatters and the Los Angeles Times report she did not, and she said other reviews made those audits duplicative.
Sources: CalMatters, May 2026, Los Angeles Times, Oct. 1, 2026
- On the record2019 and 2022
Elected chair of the State Board of Equalization in 2019 and 2022; as controller she chairs the Franchise Tax Board.
- On the record2018
Voted against a board resolution endorsing repeal of the Costa-Hawkins rent law despite saying during her BOE campaign that she favored repeal, per the Potrero View.
Source: Potrero View, Nov. 2018
- On the record2018
Broke with developers she generally backed by opposing SB 827, the state bill to override local zoning near transit.
Source: Potrero View, Nov. 2018
- Credit2026-05-12
Her office released the FY 2024-25 state financial report on May 12, 2026, after clearing a backlog of late reports by releasing four in two years.
Sources: The Bond Buyer, May 2026, CalMatters, May 2026
- Credit2011 to 2018
As San Francisco supervisor, authored the Fair Chance Ordinance and steered $1 million in power plant settlement funds to district programs.
Source: Potrero View, Nov. 2018
Herb Morgan
- On the record2017
Cantor Fitzgerald Investment Advisors acquired Efficient Market Advisors, the San Diego firm he founded in 2004; he stayed on as a senior managing director until 2026.
Sources: LAist (CalMatters voter guide), Oct. 2026, SEC Investment Adviser Public Disclosure, Herbert William Morgan, CRD 1770152 (data record)
- On the record2009
Appointed by Mayor Jerry Sanders to the San Diego City Employees' Retirement System board, confirmed by the City Council.
- On the record2002 to 2026
His SEC investment adviser record shows no customer complaints, regulatory actions or other disclosures.
Source: SEC Investment Adviser Public Disclosure, Herbert William Morgan, CRD 1770152 (data record)
- Credit2026
His campaign posts its donations on a public real-time dashboard, per CalMatters.
Source: CalMatters, May 2026
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Malia Cohen. In 2022 she pledged to scrutinize homelessness spending, EDD and the DMV; CalMatters reports she did not meet those promises, and she said the office did not audit EDD or the DMV because others were reviewing them.
Sources: CalMatters, May 2026, Los Angeles Times, Oct. 1, 2026
Herb Morgan. Campaign committee registered with the FPPC (No. 1480103). His SEC investment adviser record (CRD 1770152) shows no disclosures. No ethics or campaign finance finding found.
Sources: Herb Morgan for State Controller 2026, campaign site, SEC Investment Adviser Public Disclosure, Herbert William Morgan, CRD 1770152 (data record)
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Malia Cohen. As a San Francisco supervisor, a 2018 Potrero View review says she occasionally proved a swing vote and broke with developers, whom she generally backed, by opposing SB 827.
Source: Potrero View, Nov. 2018
Herb Morgan. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Malia Cohen. Gave on-the-record interviews on her record to CalMatters for its 2026 race guide. No 2026 general election debate found.
Source: CalMatters, May 2026
Herb Morgan. Gave interviews to CalMatters and to Fox 5 San Diego's morning show on his campaign. No 2026 general election debate found.
Sources: Fox 5 San Diego, CalMatters, May 2026
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Malia Cohen. San Francisco supervisor and board president, Board of Equalization member and chair, and controller since 2023. No formal censure or conduct finding found.
Herb Morgan. About two decades as a registered investment adviser, CEO and CIO of the firm he founded, then a Cantor Fitzgerald senior managing director. No conduct finding found.
Source: SEC Investment Adviser Public Disclosure, Herbert William Morgan, CRD 1770152 (data record)
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Malia Cohen. Sworn as supervisor, BOE member and controller. No misuse-of-office finding and no action to reject certified results found.
Herb Morgan. No public record found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Malia Cohen. Controller since January 2023 after a four-year term on the elected Board of Equalization and eight years as a San Francisco supervisor, where she chaired Budget and Finance.
Herb Morgan. Founded a San Diego investment firm later acquired by Cantor Fitzgerald Investment Advisors, and was appointed to the San Diego City Employees' Retirement System board in 2009. No government office held.
Sources: LAist (CalMatters voter guide), Oct. 2026, Voice of San Diego, April 30, 2009
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Malia Cohen. Chairs the Franchise Tax Board and sits on the CalPERS and CalSTRS boards. Described the office's duties and her plans in the GrowSF questionnaire.
Sources: California State Controller, official biography, GrowSF questionnaire, June 2026
Herb Morgan. Specific plans within the office's audit and reporting powers: a transaction-level public spending database and AI tools to flag improper payments. He notes broader reforms need the Legislature and Governor.
Source: GrowSF questionnaire, June 2026
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Malia Cohen. Completed the GrowSF questionnaire, filed a state voter guide statement and gave CalMatters interviews. Did not complete the 2026 Ballotpedia survey.
Sources: GrowSF questionnaire, June 2026, California Secretary of State, Official Voter Information Guide, Ballotpedia, Malia Cohen
Herb Morgan. Completed the GrowSF and iVoterGuide questionnaires, filed a state voter guide statement and publishes an issue page. Did not complete the 2026 Ballotpedia survey.
Sources: GrowSF questionnaire, June 2026, California Secretary of State, Official Voter Information Guide, Ballotpedia, Herb Morgan
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Malia Cohen. Born and raised in San Francisco, where she lives and served eight years as a supervisor. In-state donor share not available.
Herb Morgan. Oceanside native who built his career in San Diego and served on the city pension board. His campaign address is in Hilmar. In-state donor share not available.
Sources: Fox 5 San Diego, Herb Morgan for State Controller 2026, campaign site
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Malia Cohen. Heads the State Controller's Office (2026 budget $435.2 million), which runs state payroll and audits. FPPC closed a 2017 to 2018 audit of her BOE committee without action in 2023.
Sources: Ballotpedia, California Controller, California State Controller, official biography
Herb Morgan. Ran his own investment advisory firm from 2004 until its 2017 sale. Campaign publishes a live donation dashboard. No campaign finance finding found.
Sources: SEC Investment Adviser Public Disclosure, Herbert William Morgan, CRD 1770152 (data record), CalMatters, May 2026
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Malia Cohen. Cleared the backlog of late state financial reports, releasing four in two years and the FY 2024-25 report on May 12, 2026. As supervisor authored the Fair Chance Ordinance.
Sources: CalMatters, May 2026, The Bond Buyer, May 2026, Potrero View, Nov. 2018
Herb Morgan. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Malia Cohen. No public record found.
Herb Morgan. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Malia Cohen. No public record found.
Herb Morgan. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Malia Cohen. No public record found.
Herb Morgan. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Malia Cohen. Restored timely state financial reporting: the FY 2024-25 report came out 10 months after year end, versus as late as 631 days earlier, still behind the six-month GFOA benchmark.
Source: The Bond Buyer, May 2026
Herb Morgan. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 9, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in the California controller race?
Malia Cohen has the strongest record in the California controller race. Malia Cohen scores 65 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Herb Morgan at 59, as of October 9, 2026. Malia Cohen's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Herb Morgan's highest marks are command of the job and communication. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in the California controller race in 2026?
Malia Cohen (Democratic, incumbent), Herb Morgan (Republican). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Malia Cohen a good candidate for Controller?
Malia Cohen scores 65 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 12 of 15 criteria: character 45 of 100, qualifications 85 of 100, performance 63 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Herb Morgan a good candidate for Controller?
Herb Morgan scores 59 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 65 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every California race scored, and the California 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.