Comptroller of New York · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the New York comptroller race?
Thomas DiNapoli has the strongest record in the New York comptroller race. Thomas DiNapoli scores 66 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026. Thomas DiNapoli's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Joseph Hernandez (5 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 · incumbent
Strongest record
Thomas DiNapoli
On the ballot as Thomas P. DiNapoli
66 / 100
Public evidence on 11 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 80
- Performance
- 75
Republican
Joseph Hernandez
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 5 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 63
- 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.
Thomas DiNapoli
- On the record2026-05-08
Has accepted about $840,000 in legal campaign contributions since 2008 from lawyers at 13 investor-litigation firms, most from eight firms his office chose to litigate for the pension fund.
Source: New York Focus, May 8, 2026
- On the record2013-02-05
As sole pension trustee, raised concerns about Gov. Andrew Cuomo's pension smoothing proposal before it could take effect.
Source: Ballotpedia, Thomas DiNapoli
- Credit2026
His pension fund lawsuits have secured hundreds of millions of dollars in settlements from corporations accused of defrauding the fund.
Source: New York Focus, May 8, 2026
- Credit2022-06
His proposal to restore the comptroller's pre-audit review of SUNY, CUNY and Office of General Services contracts passed the Legislature with near-unanimous support in June 2022.
Joseph Hernandez
- On the record2025-11-04
Ran for New York City mayor in 2025 on the Quality of Life Party line and received 1,379 votes, 0.1 percent.
Source: Ballotpedia, Joseph Hernandez
- On the record2024-02-05
The Gainesville Country Club, owned by his company Blue Water Real Estate Holdings, was sold at a court-ordered foreclosure auction for $2,008,500 to pay debts of more than $2 million.
Sources: WCJB, Dec. 26, 2023, WCJB, Feb. 6, 2024
- On the record2020-11-16
The University of Florida removed his name from its chemistry building, saying it mutually agreed to release him from his 2016 $10 million pledge; UF did not disclose how much was paid.
Sources: WCJB, Nov. 16, 2020, Independent Florida Alligator, Nov. 2020
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Thomas DiNapoli. No ethics commission, court or campaign finance finding naming him was found. About $840,000 in donations since 2008 from pension-litigation law firms is legal and is in the Record.
Source: New York Focus, May 8, 2026
Joseph Hernandez. No public record found.
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Thomas DiNapoli. In 2013, as sole pension fund trustee, raised concerns about Gov. Andrew Cuomo's pension smoothing plan; in the 2026 debate called the Hochul-era practice of awarding state contracts without comptroller review a mistake.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Thomas DiNapoli, City & State, Oct. 1, 2026
Joseph Hernandez. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Thomas DiNapoli. Took part in the Oct. 1, 2026 Spectrum News general election debate with Joseph Hernandez.
Sources: Spectrum News, Sept. 22, 2026, City & State, Oct. 1, 2026
Joseph Hernandez. Took part in the Oct. 1, 2026 Spectrum News general election debate with Tom DiNapoli.
Sources: Spectrum News, Sept. 22, 2026, City & State, Oct. 1, 2026
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Thomas DiNapoli. Assembly member from 1986 and comptroller since 2007 with no formal censure, reprimand or conduct finding found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Thomas DiNapoli
Joseph Hernandez. No public record found.
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Thomas DiNapoli. Sworn state officeholder since 1986 with no official finding of misuse of office and no action to reject certified results found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Thomas DiNapoli
Joseph Hernandez. No public record found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Thomas DiNapoli. State comptroller since February 2007, elected statewide four times; Assembly member 1986 to 2007.
Source: Ballotpedia, Thomas DiNapoli
Joseph Hernandez. Biotech and finance entrepreneur who founded Blue Water Venture Partners and earlier biotech companies; has not held public office.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Joseph Hernandez, Spectrum News NY1, Oct. 2, 2026
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Thomas DiNapoli. Sitting comptroller and sole trustee of the state pension fund; in the 2026 debate cited Medicaid fraud enforcement results and called for stronger limits on donations from state contract vendors.
Sources: City & State, Oct. 1, 2026, Ballotpedia, Thomas DiNapoli
Joseph Hernandez. Proposes a Fraud Strike Task Force, pre-payment fraud detection and audits of state contracts, all within the comptroller's audit powers.
Source: Campaign site
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Thomas DiNapoli. Two channels documented: the Oct. 1 televised debate and campaign issue statements in the debate on pension and Medicaid oversight. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.
Sources: City & State, Oct. 1, 2026, Ballotpedia, Thomas DiNapoli
Joseph Hernandez. Three channels documented: the Oct. 1 televised debate, a campaign issues page and published op-eds. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.
Sources: City & State, Oct. 1, 2026, Campaign site, Ballotpedia, Joseph Hernandez
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Thomas DiNapoli. Has lived on Long Island his entire life and was first elected there, to the Mineola school board, in 1972. In-state share of contributions was not computed from state filings.
Source: Ballotpedia, Thomas DiNapoli
Joseph Hernandez. Ran for New York City mayor in 2025 on the Quality of Life Party line, a race that requires city residence; raised in Florida after arriving from Cuba at age seven.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Joseph Hernandez, Campaign site, Meet Joseph
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Thomas DiNapoli. Has headed the Office of the State Comptroller since 2007. No Board of Elections or ethics commission enforcement action naming his campaign was found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Thomas DiNapoli
Joseph Hernandez. No public record found.
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Thomas DiNapoli. His pension fund lawsuits have secured hundreds of millions of dollars in settlements from corporations; in the 2026 debate he cited 55 Medicaid fraud arrests and $44 million recovered since 2023.
Sources: New York Focus, May 8, 2026, City & State, Oct. 1, 2026
Joseph Hernandez. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Thomas DiNapoli. No public record found.
Joseph Hernandez. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Thomas DiNapoli. No public record found.
Joseph Hernandez. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Thomas DiNapoli. No public record found.
Joseph Hernandez. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Thomas DiNapoli. No public record found.
Joseph Hernandez. 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 New York comptroller race?
Thomas DiNapoli has the strongest record in the New York comptroller race. Thomas DiNapoli scores 66 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026. Thomas DiNapoli's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Joseph Hernandez (5 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 New York comptroller race in 2026?
Thomas DiNapoli (Democratic, incumbent), Joseph Hernandez (Republican). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Thomas DiNapoli a good candidate for Comptroller?
Thomas DiNapoli scores 66 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 11 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 80 of 100, performance 75 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Joseph Hernandez a good candidate for Comptroller?
Joseph Hernandez has public evidence on 5 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.
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 New York race scored, and the New York 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.