2014 California State Controller election

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2014 California State Controller election
Flag of California.svg
  2010 November 4, 2014 2018  
  California State Controller Betty Yee.jpg Ashley Swearengin (1).jpg
Nominee Betty Yee Ashley Swearengin
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote3,810,3043,249,668
Percentage54.0%46.0%

2014 California State Controller election results map by county.svg
County results
Yee:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%
Swearengin:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%

State Controller before election

John Chiang
Democratic

Elected State Controller

Betty Yee
Democratic

The 2014 California State Controller election was held on November 4, 2014, to elect the State Controller of California. Incumbent Democratic State Controller John Chiang was term-limited and ineligible to run for re-election to a third term in office and instead ran successfully for California State Treasurer.

Contents

A primary election was held on June 3, 2014. Under California's nonpartisan blanket primary law, all candidates appear on the same ballot, regardless of party. In the primary, voters may vote for any candidate, regardless of their party affiliation. The top two finishers — regardless of party — advance to the general election in November, even if a candidate manages to receive a majority of the votes cast in the primary election. Washington is the only other state with this system, a so-called "top two primary" (Louisiana has a similar "jungle primary").

In the primary, Republican Ashley Swearengin and Democrat Betty Yee finished first and second, respectively. The third-place finisher, Democrat John Pérez, initially called for a recount in 15 counties after official results showed him trailing Yee by 481 votes; however, he ultimately conceded to Yee more than a month after the primary. [1] [2] [3] Swearengin and Yee contested the general election, which Yee won. As of 2025, this election, alongside the concurrent Secretary of State election, is the last time in which a statewide California race between a Democrat and a Republican was decided by single digits; and in which Mono, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura Counties voted for the Republican in a statewide race.

Primary election

Candidates

Democratic Party

Declared
Declined

Republican Party

Declared
Withdrew

Green Party

Declared

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
John
Pérez (D)
Ashley
Swearengin (R)
Betty
Yee (D)
OtherUndecided
SurveyUSA [11] May 16–19, 2014610±4%18%31%24%8%18%
Field Poll [12] Mar. 18–Apr. 5, 2014504±4.5%14%28%19%1%38%

Results

California State Controller primary election, 2014 [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Ashley Swearengin 1,001,473 24.79
Democratic Betty Yee 878,195 21.74
Democratic John Pérez 877,71421.73
Republican David Evans850,10921.05
Green Laura Wells 231,3525.73
Democratic Tammy D. Blair200,5324.96
Total votes4,039,375 100
Turnout  13.68

General election

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Betty
Yee (D)
Ashley
Swearengin (R)
Undecided
GQR/American Viewpoint [14] October 22–29, 20141,162± 3.3%46%38%16%
Field Poll [15] October 15–28, 2014941± 3.4%44%36%20%
Field Poll [16] August 14–28, 2014467± 4.8%46%32%22%
Gravis Marketing [17] July 22–24, 2014580± 4%39%39%22%

Results

California State Controller general election, 2014 [18]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Betty Yee 3,810,304 53.97
Republican Ashley Swearengin 3,249,66846.03
Total votes7,059,972 100

References

  1. Megerian, Chris (July 6, 2014). "John Pérez calls for recount in tight race for state controller". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
  2. "8 reasons to care about the recount in the state controller's race". KPCC . July 9, 2014. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  3. Wildermuth, John. "John Pérez concedes in California controller's race". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved July 18, 2014.
  4. "Official certified list of candidates" (PDF). Controller. California Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 14, 2014. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  5. Melanie Mason (October 9, 2013). "Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez announces bid for state controller". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 7, 2014.
  6. Josh Richman (April 8, 2013). "Political Blotter: Board of Equalization member Betty Yee making a bid for state controller". San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved March 9, 2014.
  7. Josh Richman (June 3, 2013). "Bill Lockyer won't run for controller, will retire from office at end of 2014". San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved March 9, 2014.
  8. 1 2 3 "State Controller" (PDF). California Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 9, 2014. Retrieved March 8, 2014.
  9. "Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin plans bid for state controller" . Retrieved March 7, 2014.
  10. Withdrawn: Tina Mizany for California State Controller (March 7, 2014). "With regret this notice is to inform everyone..." Facebook. Retrieved March 9, 2014.
  11. SurveyUSA
  12. Field Poll
  13. "Statement of Vote June 3, 2014, Statewide Direct Primary Election" (PDF). California Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 4, 2014. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
  14. GQR/American Viewpoint
  15. Field Poll
  16. Field Poll
  17. Gravis Marketing
  18. "Statement of Vote November 4, 2014, General Election" (PDF). California Secretary of State. Retrieved December 30, 2014.

Official campaign websites