Cohen seeks re-election as California controller Nov. 3

California Controller Malia Cohen, a Democrat, faces Republican Herb W. Morgan in the Nov. 3 general election.

Cohen is the first African American elected as California state controller, according to Carnegie Mellon University. She said in the California Secretary of State's voter guide that she is running "to ensure taxpayer dollars are managed with transparency, accountability, and fairness."

Candidate information

Party: Democratic
Office sought: California Controller
Education: Bachelor's in political science, Fisk University (2000); master's in public policy and management, Carnegie Mellon University (2008)
Birthplace: San Francisco, California

Cohen grew up in the Richmond District of San Francisco and graduated from Lowell High School, according to her Wikipedia biography.

Experience and public service

Cohen has held several public and private roles, according to her state controller biography and BallotReady profile data:

California state controller (2023–present)
Chairwoman, California State Board of Equalization (2019–present)
President, San Francisco Board of Supervisors (2018–2019)
Supervisor, District 10, San Francisco (elected office)
President, San Francisco Employees' Retirement System
Confidential secretary, office of the mayor of San Francisco (Mayor Gavin Newsom)
Legislative aide, San Mateo County Board of Supervisors (Supervisor Rose Jacobs Gibson)
Field organizer, Gavin Newsom 2003 San Francisco mayoral campaign

On the issues

The following positions are Cohen's own statements, drawn from her campaign website and the California Secretary of State's voter guide.

Fiscal accountability: Cohen said she has strengthened fiscal transparency by expanding public access to financial and payroll data. She said she released timely monthly cash reports, reunited all 58 counties with millions in unclaimed property and advanced the modernization of California's payroll system. She said budgets "are moral documents that should reflect our shared values and invest in people, not special interests."

Economy: Cohen said she will focus on job creation and job training, prioritizing communities of color and low-income communities, according to her campaign website.

Housing: Cohen said she is working to expand housing availability at all income levels so residents can build their future in the state, according to her campaign website.