Comptroller General of South Carolina · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the South Carolina comptroller general race?
No candidate in the South Carolina comptroller general race has enough public record yet for a Ballot Standard score, as of October 9, 2026. Tiffany Boozer (5 of 15 criteria) and Mike Burkhold (7 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Democratic
Tiffany Boozer
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 5 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 50
- Performance
- NR
Republican
Mike Burkhold
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 7 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.
Tiffany Boozer
- On the record2026-05-21
Did not respond to the WSOC candidate guide before the June 2026 primary.
Source: WSOC, via MSN, May 21, 2026
- Credit2025
Certified public accountant who joined the South Carolina Comptroller General's Office in 2025 as a quality assurance manager.
- Credit
Worked as an auditor for the state Departments of Public Health, Public Safety and Administration, and for Ernst and Young and Bauknight Pietras and Stormer.
Mike Burkhold
- On the record2026-02
Told the Lexington County GOP in February 2026 that the controller, state auditor and external auditor all missed the $3.5 billion accounting error, calling it a culture problem.
- On the record2026-06-30
Loaned his campaign $750,000 and had repaid most of it by June 30, 2026, when he reported $131,000 cash on hand.
- On the record2026
Publishes a weekly campaign newsletter that reviews one item of state spending from public records, and proposes an online state checkbook.
Source: Burkhold campaign site
- Credit2009
Founded Equiscript in 2009, a company that tracks health care transactions and brings in millions in revenue; he is listed as founder and board member.
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Tiffany Boozer. State campaign reports on file show $6,300 cash on hand June 30. No official finding found.
Mike Burkhold. State campaign reports on file show $131,000 cash on hand June 30 and a $750,000 self-loan mostly repaid. No official finding found.
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Tiffany Boozer. No public record found.
Mike Burkhold. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Tiffany Boozer. No public record found.
Mike Burkhold. No public record found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Tiffany Boozer. Certified public accountant with audit roles at three state agencies and two accounting firms, now a quality assurance manager in the Comptroller General's Office; no conduct finding found.
Mike Burkhold. Founded and led a health care transaction company since 2009 with no conduct finding found.
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Tiffany Boozer. No public record found.
Mike Burkhold. No public record found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Tiffany Boozer. CPA and state government auditor; quality assurance manager in the Comptroller General's Office since 2025. Staff roles, not a senior government post.
Mike Burkhold. Business founder and board member of Equiscript, a health care transaction company; no government service.
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Tiffany Boozer. Published positions in general terms on accounting standards, internal controls and financial reporting.
Mike Burkhold. Specific plans within the office: publish real-time state spending in an online checkbook and review agency payments against stated standards.
Source: Burkhold campaign, Issues
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Tiffany Boozer. One channel: an op-ed submitted to The State. Did not answer the WSOC candidate guide and has not completed Ballotpedia's survey.
Sources: The State, via MSN, Sept. 30, 2026, WSOC, via MSN, May 21, 2026, Ballotpedia, Tiffany Boozer
Mike Burkhold. Three channels: issue page, a weekly 'Follow The Money' newsletter, and a published op-ed in the Greenville News. Has not completed Ballotpedia's survey.
Sources: Burkhold campaign site, Wikipedia, 2026 South Carolina State Comptroller election, Ballotpedia, Mike Burkhold
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Tiffany Boozer. No public record found.
Mike Burkhold. Lifelong South Carolinian raised in Chapin, now on Sullivan's Island, per his campaign; 1998 Republican nominee in the 5th Congressional District. In-state donor share not available.
Sources: Burkhold campaign, About, Wikipedia, 2026 South Carolina State Comptroller election
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Tiffany Boozer. No public record found.
Mike Burkhold. Founded Equiscript in 2009 and built it into a company with millions in revenue. Staff size not established.
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Tiffany Boozer. No public record found.
Mike Burkhold. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Tiffany Boozer. No public record found.
Mike Burkhold. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Tiffany Boozer. No public record found.
Mike Burkhold. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Tiffany Boozer. No public record found.
Mike Burkhold. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Tiffany Boozer. No public record found.
Mike Burkhold. 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 South Carolina comptroller general race?
No candidate in the South Carolina comptroller general race has enough public record yet for a Ballot Standard score, as of October 9, 2026. Tiffany Boozer (5 of 15 criteria) and Mike Burkhold (7 of 15 criteria) have 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 South Carolina comptroller general race in 2026?
Tiffany Boozer (Democratic), Mike Burkhold (Republican). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Tiffany Boozer a good candidate for Comptroller General?
Tiffany Boozer 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.
Is Mike Burkhold a good candidate for Comptroller General?
Mike Burkhold has public evidence on 7 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 South Carolina race scored, and the South Carolina 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.