Malia CohenMalia Cohen

Cohen knows public finance, and she knows San Francisco.

Before becoming Controller, Cohen chaired the Budget and Finance Committee and the Audit and Oversight Committee on the SF Board of Supervisors. After that, she ran the San Francisco Employees' Retirement System (https://mysfers.org/about-sfers/investments/), a $35 billion pension fund. Now she sits on the boards of CalPERS and CalSTRS (https://sco.ca.gov/eo_investments_and_pensions.html), the two biggest public pension funds in the country, with almost $1T in assets, combined.

She also went after California's largest-ever charter school fraud (https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/task-force-releases-report-in-wake-of-states-largest-ever-charter-school-fraud/3632211/). Cohen led a task force that came up with 20 fixes (https://www.bondbuyer.com/news/california-controller-releases-recommendations-to-prevent-charter-school-fraud) for how the state checks school finances — tougher rules for auditors, faster reporting, and more disclosure. Her office also publishes pay data for over 2 million government workers (https://sco.ca.gov/eo_sco_data.html) across 5,000+ agencies.

We would like to see the Controller's Office return $15B in unclaimed property (https://www.cbsnews.com/news/california-unclaimed-property-state-owes-charities-money/) such as forgotten bank accounts and uncashed checks that belong to Californians. Other states send it back automatically — California still doesn't. Overall, Cohen has brought transparency and accountability to the state's spending.

Source (https://growsf.org/voter-guide/san-francisco-voter-guide-june-2026-election/#controller)

As California State Controller, Malia Cohen serves as the state’s chief fscal officer, safeguarding the finances of the world’s fourth-largest economy. She is running for re-election to ensure taxpayer dollars are managed with transparency, accountability, and fairness. Born and raised in San Francisco, Malia understands frsthand the promise of California and the urgency of protecting it for future generations. A working mom, lifelong Democrat and dedicated public servant, she believes budgets are moral documents that should refect our shared values and invest in people, not special interests. As Controller, Malia has strengthened fscal transparency by expanding public access to financial and payroll data, giving Californians a clear view of how public dollars are spent. She has released timely monthly cash reports to help keep California fscally strong during economic uncertainty, reunited all 58 counties with millions in unclaimed property, and honored local governments for excellence in accurate financial reporting. She has also advanced the long-overdue modernization of California’s payroll system to better serve public workers statewide. At a time when trust in government matters more than ever, Malia Cohen is committed to protecting California’s financial future and making the California Dream real for every community. Join teachers, nurses, healthcare workers, operating engineers, plumbers, pipeftters, electrical workers, and working folks across California in supporting Malia Cohen for Controller. Learn more at: MaliaCohenForCA.com

The current California controller since 2023, Cohen emphasizes governance grounded in transparency, efficiency and fairness. Recently, she has advocated for cautious spending practices while state leadership negotiates budget allocations.

Key endorsements: California Democratic Party, California Labor Federation, Equality California.

UAW endorsed candidate

Cohen is the Democrat incumbent. Morgan is the Republican. Morgan argues that the Controller needs use its audit power to require every state and local agency to report each expenditure of disbursed state funds on a block chain ledger, so everyone can see it. He cites to Cal DOGE to claim massive fraud. While it is tempting to agree that fraud must be investigated and give a Republican a chance, Cal DOGE has suspect methodology (makes assumptions without evidence that seem politically motivated), Morgan/Cal DOGE's beef seem to disagree with legislative choices rather than fraud, Cohen has overseen Controller audits, and a state-wide block chain to supplement state and local agency reporting likely would be quite expensive (unless it did reveal a lot of fraud!). I'm sticking with Cohen--while agreeing that fraud allegations should be investigated.

Malia Cohen will also win reelection as the only Democrat in the race. GrowSF approves of her job performance, too.

VIG listing; Occupation: State Controller/Mother

Statewide constitutional officer endorsement

Incumbent and SF native. Oversees $100 billion in annual state payments. Endorsed by law enforcement organizations.

She’s the only Democrat

Democratic Party endorsed (via Sutter VIG)

SD & Imperial Counties Labor Council endorsed

I will be voting for Meghann Adams. Her viability is low; however, she aligns with a lot of my views. She is pro universal healthcare, she wants to address climate change, she wants to expose corporate landlords driving up rent, and she wants to divest state investments into companies that supports Israel's genocide against Gaza. Malia Cohen will be my second choice.

Malia Cohen has the experience to run a $350B operation — she’s served as Controller since 2023, overseeing audits and spending for one of the world’s largest economies, after years on the Board of Equalization and the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.

She’s pitching fiscal discipline at the right moment — campaigning on transparency, efficiency, and fairness, and pushing the Legislature to spend cautiously amid tight budget negotiations.

The Controller job is about competence, not slogans. Her opponent’s “expose fraud” pitch echoes national talking points; Cohen offers a proven hand on the state’s books. Vote Malia Cohen for Controller.

Incumbent

Incumbent

She's been doing a solid job and is a badass woman. I've heard her speak at multiple Emerge CA events. Inspirational.

Democratic Party endorsed