Herb Morgan: Californians Want Someone Watching the Money
New Statewide Poll: California Controller Race Tightens as Voters Demand More Transparency and Financial Accountability
By Katy Grimes, September 24, 2026 3:00 pm
A new statewide poll of likely November voters finds Republican Herb Morgan inching up on Democrat Malia Cohen in the race for State Controller.
Just 8 points separate the two, 49.5% to 41.2% — and the margin narrows to 6.2 once voters hear more about the race.
Morgan said California voters are sending a pretty unmistakable message about the state’s finances: They want to see where the money is going.
The new statewide survey of 828 likely November voters finds the race for California State Controller tightening between incumbent Democrat Malia Cohen and Republican financial executive Herb Morgan.
The September 15–16 poll, conducted by pollster David Wolfson, begins with Cohen at 49.5% and Morgan at 41.2%, with 9.4% undecided — an 8.3-point gap. After voters hear more information about the race, the margin falls to 6.2 points, with Cohen at 48.7% and Morgan at 42.5%.
The poll memo reports that among remaining undecided voters who express a final-ballot lean, 58.8% lean toward Morgan and 41.2% toward Cohen. When those leaners are allocated, the poll models the race at 52.3% Cohen to 47.7% Morgan, a 4.6-point difference. The survey has a ±4 percentage-point margin of error.
“When undecided voters are accounted for, this contest is within 4.6 points—inside the poll’s margin of error,” Herb Morgan told the Globe. “Californians are demanding radical transparency in how Sacramento spends their money. I will give them that, and I will win this election.”
The poll found Final-ballot undecideds lean toward Morgan 58.8% to 41.2%. Allocating them, Cohen leads 52.3% to 47.7% – a 4.6-point race within the poll’s margin of error.
Waste, fraud, and abuse tops voters’ priorities
Asked to choose the three highest priorities for California’s next State Controller, voters put finding waste, fraud, and abuse in state government first. Oversight, accountability, and stewardship of taxpayer money define what voters want from the office.
63.2% selected finding waste, fraud and abuse in state government, making it the top response.
Another 56.7% chose protecting taxpayers from government mismanagement, while 43.9% selected increasing transparency in state spending.
Those concerns become even clearer when voters are asked about specific reforms.
An extraordinary 95.3% support providing detailed information online showing where state government spends taxpayer money.
Another 92.8% support more frequent independent audits of agencies and programs where there are concerns about waste, fraud or mismanagement.
73.9% — strongly support publishing spending details, while 66.3% strongly support more frequent independent audits.
Morgan says this isn’t a poll consisting primarily of Republicans.
The sample is 48.1% Democratic, 30.9% Republican and 18.9% Independent/No Party Preference, with another 2.1% identifying with another party.
That matters. That 18.9% Independent/No Party Preference is really what Globe calls the “Politically Repulsed Party,” made up of disaffected Democrats and Republicans.
The dissatisfaction reflected in the survey is occurring within an electorate where Democrats substantially outnumber Republicans, Morgan notes.
Morgan says the poll provides a clear snapshot of what likely voters say they want from the office.
They want waste and fraud investigated.
They want stronger oversight.
They want independent audits.
And, overwhelmingly, they want to see the books.
A California native and Navy mom, Katy lives in Sacramento, CA.
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