State Controller of Nevada · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the Nevada state controller race?
Andy Matthews has the strongest record in the Nevada state controller race. Andy Matthews scores 57 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 6, 2026. Andy Matthews's highest marks are integrity and relevant experience. Michael MacDougall (6 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Democratic
Michael MacDougall
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 6 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 55
- Performance
- NR
Republican · incumbent
Strongest record
Andy Matthews
57 / 100
Public evidence on 11 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 56
- Qualifications
- 65
- Performance
- 38
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.
Michael MacDougall
- On the record2026
First-time candidate, a high school teacher and family real estate business owner, running for controller on debt collection and timely financial reporting.
Andy Matthews
- Mark against2025-08-18
The state's fiscal 2023 annual comprehensive financial report, published by his office, was released 777 days after the fiscal year ended, the last of any state.
Sources: The Nevada Independent, Sept. 26, 2025, The Bond Buyer, Sept. 5, 2025
- On the record2026-10
Did not respond to a League of Women Voters of Northern Nevada invitation to an Oct. 12, 2026, candidate forum.
Source: Carson Now, Oct. 5, 2026
- Credit2026
The most recent annual financial report came out about 50 days faster than the prior one, the first decrease in filing time in six years.
- Credit2024
Launched the Nevada Open Finance Portal, which posts state spending, about a year after taking office, fulfilling a 2022 campaign promise.
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Michael MacDougall. No public record found.
Andy Matthews. Kept his 2022 promise to post state spending online: the Nevada Open Finance Portal launched about a year after he took office. No ethics or campaign finance finding against him found.
Sources: The Nevada Independent, Oct. 1, 2026, Nevada Commission on Ethics, Opinions page (updated Aug. 27, 2026)
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Michael MacDougall. No public record found.
Andy Matthews. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Michael MacDougall. Listed to appear at the League of Women Voters of Northern Nevada forum on Oct. 12, 2026, and interviewed by the Nevada Independent.
Sources: Carson Now, Oct. 5, 2026, The Nevada Independent, Oct. 1, 2026
Andy Matthews. Gave the Nevada Independent an interview on his record in 2026; did not respond to a League of Women Voters of Northern Nevada forum invitation for Oct. 12, 2026.
Sources: The Nevada Independent, Oct. 1, 2026, Carson Now, Oct. 5, 2026
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Michael MacDougall. No public record found.
Andy Matthews. One Assembly term and controller since 2023, earlier president of the Nevada Policy Research Institute, with no censure, reprimand or conduct finding found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Andy Matthews
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Michael MacDougall. No public record found.
Andy Matthews. Sworn Assembly member 2020 to 2022 and controller since Jan. 2, 2023, with no misuse-of-office finding and no action to reject certified results.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Andy Matthews, The Nevada Independent, Sept. 26, 2025
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Michael MacDougall. High school teacher and partner in his family's three-generation real estate business; first run for office.
Andy Matthews. Controller since January 2023, with the first term ending January 2027; one Assembly term, 2020 to 2022; led the Nevada Policy Research Institute.
Source: Ballotpedia, Andy Matthews
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Michael MacDougall. Publishes positions in general terms: more debt collection staffing, timely annual financial reports and transit advocacy on the state transportation board.
Andy Matthews. Sitting controller with specific plans within the office's powers: funding to modernize the 10-year-old debt collection system, an automation initiative and added staff.
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Michael MacDougall. Three channels documented: Ballotpedia's 2026 survey, a Nevada Independent interview and a scheduled League of Women Voters forum.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Michael MacDougall, The Nevada Independent, Oct. 1, 2026, Carson Now, Oct. 5, 2026
Andy Matthews. Two channels documented: Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey and a Nevada Independent interview.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Andy Matthews, The Nevada Independent, Oct. 1, 2026
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Michael MacDougall. Graduated from the Advanced Technologies Academy and helps run a three-generation family business; years of Nevada residence are not stated in the sources opened. In-state share not available.
Source: Ballotpedia, Michael MacDougall
Andy Matthews. Has worked in Nevada since 2006, including eight years at a Nevada think tank and an Assembly term for a Las Vegas district. In-state share not available.
Source: Ballotpedia, Andy Matthews
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Michael MacDougall. Helps run his family's real estate business. Had about $10,000 in his campaign account at the end of June; no campaign finance penalty found.
Andy Matthews. Leads an office of about 45 people and secured added staff; the office's fiscal 2023 annual financial report was the last in the nation (see criterion 12).
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Michael MacDougall. No public record found.
Andy Matthews. Launched the Nevada Open Finance Portal, which posts state spending, about a year after taking office; the latest annual report came out about 50 days faster than the one before.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Michael MacDougall. No public record found.
Andy Matthews. His office released the state's fiscal 2023 annual comprehensive financial report 777 days after the year ended, the last state in the country; the target is nine months. The delays began before him.
Sources: The Nevada Independent, Sept. 26, 2025, The Bond Buyer, Sept. 5, 2025, The Nevada Independent, Oct. 1, 2026
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Michael MacDougall. No public record found.
Andy Matthews. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Michael MacDougall. No public record found.
Andy Matthews. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Michael MacDougall. No public record found.
Andy Matthews. 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 6, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in the Nevada state controller race?
Andy Matthews has the strongest record in the Nevada state controller race. Andy Matthews scores 57 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 6, 2026. Andy Matthews's highest marks are integrity and relevant experience. Michael MacDougall (6 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in the Nevada state controller race in 2026?
Michael MacDougall (Democratic), Andy Matthews (Republican, incumbent). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Michael MacDougall a good candidate for State Controller?
Michael MacDougall has public evidence on 6 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Andy Matthews a good candidate for State Controller?
Andy Matthews scores 57 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 11 of 15 criteria: character 56 of 100, qualifications 65 of 100, performance 38 of 100. 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 Nevada race scored, and the Nevada 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.