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Statewide constitutional office

State Controller of California

This durable statewide office is California's chief fiscal office and independently accounts for and protects state financial resources.

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Data coverage
Government
State of California
Public body
California State Controller's Office
Electoral area
California statewide
Outline map of California, the statewide electoral area
California statewide
i
Reviewed California state outline. This office represents the full state. A district comparison tool is not needed.

Office overview

The office at a glance

See what this office does, the government it belongs to, the area it represents, and how voters choose its officeholder.

Government levelStateState of California
Contest typeVoter-nominatedCalifornia top-two primary
SeatStatewide officeOne of California's eight statewide constitutional offices
Regular term4 yearsRegular term; next election is 2026; no one may serve more than two terms in this office

What this office does

Accounts for and protects California's financial resources

The Controller disburses and accounts for state funds, audits agencies and local governments, administers state payroll, safeguards unclaimed property, and serves on major fiscal and pension boards.

California State Controller's Office

Election process

A statewide top-two election every four years

All voters receive the same voter-nominated candidate list. The top two primary finishers advance regardless of party preference, and the general-election winner serves a four-year term.

Next electionNovember 3, 2026

Open the 2026 Election Page
California statewide statisticsJuly 1, 2025 population estimate and 2020–2024 measures

These statewide measures describe the shared electoral area for all eight California constitutional offices. They do not describe an officeholder's performance. QuickFacts combines the latest available population estimate with 2020–2024 Census measures, so each row retains its own period note.

People and households

Population
39,355,309July 1, 2025 estimate
Persons per household
2.842020–2024
Foreign-born residents
27.0%Share of residents; 2020–2024

Income and education

Median household income
$99,1222024 inflation-adjusted dollars
People in poverty
11.8%2020–2024
Bachelor's degree or higher
37.1%Population age 25+; 2020–2024

Housing

Housing units
14,995,410July 1, 2025 estimate
Homeownership rate
55.9%Occupied housing units; 2020–2024
Median gross rent
$2,036Monthly; 2020–2024
U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: California

Current officeholder

Who currently holds this office?

The official Controller's website and California Roster identify Malia M. Cohen as California's current State Controller.

Past officeholders32 verified succession records

Succession history

Explore prior service

All prior officeholders listed in the 2026 California Roster.

A displayed end boundary is the date on which the next listed officeholder assumed office; it is not independently asserted as the prior officeholder's final day.

Electoral area

Where this office represents

See the geographic area represented by this office and open its location information when available.

Outline map of California, the statewide electoral area
California statewideReviewed California state outline. This office represents the full state. A district comparison tool is not needed.

Reviewed electoral area

California

Voters in all 58 California counties elect this officeholder to one statewide office.

A reviewed static map is shown while a reliable interactive boundary remains unavailable.

Open the Location Page

Past elections

Election history

This section covers completed elections. Current and upcoming contests remain on the Election Page linked from the top of this Office Page. A published past Election Page contains the full candidate list, certified result, campaign-finance coverage, methodology, and source documents.

Election archive

November 8, 2022 · State Controller of California page not yet published

The election is listed so the office chronology is clear, but its result and source documents have not yet been assembled into a Paper Trail Politics Election Page.

Public records

Records connected to this office

Open the official records used to follow the work, decisions, or disclosures connected to this office.

Public finance

ByTheNumbers open-data portal

Explore state and local government financial, compensation, pension, and tax data published by the Controller.

Open official record

Unclaimed property

ClaimIt.ca.gov

Search the state's official unclaimed-property records and review the claim process.

Open official record

Audits

Controller audit reports

Browse independent audits and reviews published by the State Controller's Office.

Open official record

News and Press Releases

Updates from this office

Read press releases, official updates, and coverage selected by this office. Follow each link to its source.

Official portrait of Malia M. Cohen
California State Controller's Office
California State Controller's Office
Official update

Controller Cohen thanks Governor Newsom for signing legislation strengthening financial oversight of California schools

The Controller said AB 126 incorporates task-force recommendations intended to improve school audit quality, transparency, and fraud detection.

California State Controller's OfficeRead official update
Official portrait of Malia M. Cohen
California State Controller's Office
California State Controller's Office
Official update

Controller Cohen releases compensation data on California's local-government workforce

The Controller published annual city and county compensation data, including reported positions, wages, and total compensation for 2025.

California State Controller's OfficeRead official update
Official portrait of Malia M. Cohen
California State Controller's Office
California State Controller's Office
Official update

Controller Cohen releases updated costs for state retiree health and dental benefits

The Controller reported an updated estimate of California's liability for retiree health and dental benefits and discussed the state's prefunding schedule.

California State Controller's OfficeRead official update

Sources

Sources and data coverage

Review the public records used on this page, what Paper Trail Politics has captured, and what remains incomplete.

Current assessmentStrong coverage

The office identity, current officeholder and contact, verified succession chronology, California-wide electoral area and statistics, connected 2026 election, official records, related statewide offices, three current official publications, and source trail are included.

Assessed August 18, 2026 · Current 2026 records

The 2018 and 2022 Election Pages, complete historical portrait coverage, compensation, additional succession context, and full visual and accessibility release review remain incomplete.

Sources used on this page15 source organizations · 29 records
Official candidate source

1 record from this source is used on the page.

Candidate list and ballot informationhttps://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2026-primary/sov/58-sco.xlsx
U.S. Census Bureau state boundary

1 record from this source is used on the page.

Boundary source for State of Californiahttps://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/USLandmass/MapServer/0
California State Controller's Office

10 records from this source are used on the page.

Official government information about the office and public bodyhttps://sco.ca.gov/eo_about_func.htmlThe official Controller's website and California Roster identify Malia M. Cohen as California's current State Controller.https://sco.ca.gov/eo_contactus.htmlPortrait source page for Malia M. Cohenhttps://sco.ca.gov/eo_about_bio.htmlByTheNumbers open-data portalhttps://bythenumbers.sco.ca.gov/ClaimIt.ca.govhttps://claimit.ca.gov/Controller audit reportshttps://sco.ca.gov/aud_audits.htmlOfficial update: Controller Cohen thanks Governor Newsom for signing legislation strengthening financial oversight of California schoolshttps://www.sco.ca.gov/eo_pressrel_27564.htmlOfficial update: Controller Cohen releases compensation data on California's local-government workforcehttps://www.sco.ca.gov/eo_pressrel_27560.htmlOfficial update: Controller Cohen releases updated costs for state retiree health and dental benefitshttps://www.sco.ca.gov/eo_pressrel_27555.htmlOfficial publication archive used to review current News items.https://sco.ca.gov/eo_pressrel.html
U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: California

1 record from this source is used on the page.

July 1, 2025 population estimate and 2020–2024 measures detailed district statisticshttps://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/CA/PST045225
California Secretary of State · 2026 History of California Constitutional Officeholders

1 record from this source is used on the page.

Verified succession chronology for State Controller of Californiahttps://admin.cdn.sos.ca.gov/ca-roster/2026/history-of-officers.pdf
California Official Voter Information Guide

1 record from this source is used on the page.

Reviewed photograph for Betty T. Yee · Betty T. Yee candidate statement · Officially published candidate photographhttps://vigarchive.sos.ca.gov/2026/primary/candidates/governor-candidate-statements.htm
California State Treasurer's Office via Wikimedia Commons

1 record from this source is used on the page.

Reviewed photograph for John Chiang · State of California · Public domain (California government work)https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:California_State_Treasurer_John_Chiang_(cropped).jpg
Steve Jurvetson via Wikimedia Commons

1 record from this source is used on the page.

Reviewed photograph for Steve Westly · Steve Jurvetson · CC BY 2.0https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Steve_Westly.jpg
California State Controller's Office via Wikimedia Commons

1 record from this source is used on the page.

Reviewed photograph for Kathleen Connell · California State Controller's Office · Public domain (California government work)https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kathleen_Connell_official_portrait.jpg
Office of the Governor via Wikimedia Commons

1 record from this source is used on the page.

Reviewed photograph for Gray Davis · State of California · Public domain (California government work)https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gray_Davis,_portrait_(3x4).jpg
California Blue Book 1975 via Wikimedia Commons

1 record from this source is used on the page.

Reviewed photograph for Kenneth Cory · California State Printing Office · Public domainhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ken_Cory,_1975.jpg
Wikimedia Commons

5 records from this source are used on the page.

Reviewed photograph for Houston I. Flournoy · California State Printing Office · Public domainhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Houston_I._Flournoy,_1971_Color_Correction.jpgReviewed photograph for Alan Cranston · U.S. Congress · Public domainhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:AlanCranston.jpgReviewed photograph for Robert C. Kirkwood · California State Printing Office · Public domainhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Robert_C._Kirkwood,_1958.jpgReviewed photograph for Thomas Kuchel · U.S. Senator Thomas Kuchel (R-CA) · Public domainhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Thomas_Kuchel.jpgReviewed photograph for John P. Dunn · Unknown authorUnknown author · Public domainhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:John_Patrick_Dunn.jpg
California Secretary of State

2 records from this source are used on the page.

California Roster source for the eight current statewide constitutional officers and their office contact information.https://www.sos.ca.gov/administration/california-rosterOfficial explanation of California voter-nominated and nonpartisan primary election rules.https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/primary-elections-california
California Legislative Information

1 record from this source is used on the page.

California Constitution Article V source for executive powers, statewide election timing, terms, and term limits.https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displayText.xhtml?article=V&chapter=&division=&lawCode=CONS&part=&title=
U.S. Census Bureau

1 record from this source is used on the page.

State cartographic boundary source underlying the static California map treatment.https://www.census.gov/geographies/mapping-files/time-series/geo/cartographic-boundary.html
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