2014 California State Controller election
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November 4, 2014
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 County results Yee: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% Swearengin: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% | |||||||||||||||||
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| Elections in California |
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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.
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 2026, 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
[edit]Candidates
[edit]Democratic Party
[edit]Declared
[edit]- Tammy D. Blair, administrator[4]
- John Pérez, Speaker of the California State Assembly[5]
- Betty Yee, Member of the State Board of Equalization[6]
Declined
[edit]Republican Party
[edit]Declared
[edit]- David Evans, accountant, candidate for California's 22nd congressional district in 2006 and for Controller in 2010[8]
- Ashley Swearengin, Mayor of Fresno[9]
Withdrew
[edit]Green Party
[edit]Declared
[edit]Polling
[edit]| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
John Pérez (D) |
Ashley Swearengin (R) |
Betty Yee (D) |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SurveyUSA[11] | May 16–19, 2014 | 610 | ±4% | 18% | 31% | 24% | 8% | 18% |
| Field Poll[12] | Mar. 18–Apr. 5, 2014 | 504 | ±4.5% | 14% | 28% | 19% | 1% | 38% |
Results
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Ashley Swearengin | 1,001,473 | 24.79 | |
| Democratic | Betty Yee | 878,195 | 21.74 | |
| Democratic | John Pérez | 877,714 | 21.73 | |
| Republican | David Evans | 850,109 | 21.05 | |
| Green | Laura Wells | 231,352 | 5.73 | |
| Democratic | Tammy D. Blair | 200,532 | 4.96 | |
| Total votes | 4,039,375 | 100 | ||
| Turnout | 13.68 | |||
General election
[edit]Polling
[edit]| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Betty Yee (D) |
Ashley Swearengin (R) |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GQR/American Viewpoint[14] | October 22–29, 2014 | 1,162 | ± 3.3% | 46% | 38% | 16% |
| Field Poll[15] | October 15–28, 2014 | 941 | ± 3.4% | 44% | 36% | 20% |
| Field Poll[16] | August 14–28, 2014 | 467 | ± 4.8% | 46% | 32% | 22% |
| Gravis Marketing[17] | July 22–24, 2014 | 580 | ± 4% | 39% | 39% | 22% |
Results
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Betty Yee | 3,810,304 | 53.97 | |
| Republican | Ashley Swearengin | 3,249,668 | 46.03 | |
| Total votes | 7,059,972 | 100.00 | ||
By county
[edit]| County[19] | Betty Yee Democratic |
Ashley Swearengin Republican |
Margin | Total votes cast | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | # | % | ||
| Alameda | 264,541 | 76.87% | 79,605 | 23.13% | 184,936 | 53.74% | 344,146 |
| Alpine | 258 | 56.95% | 195 | 43.05% | 63 | 13.91% | 453 |
| Amador | 4,867 | 38.92% | 7,639 | 61.08% | -2,772 | -22.17% | 12,506 |
| Butte | 26,287 | 43.97% | 33,500 | 56.03% | -7,213 | -12.06% | 59,787 |
| Calaveras | 5,908 | 39.15% | 9,182 | 60.85% | -3,274 | -21.70% | 15,090 |
| Colusa | 1,446 | 35.68% | 2,607 | 64.32% | -1,161 | -28.65% | 4,053 |
| Contra Costa | 148,329 | 60.80% | 95,643 | 39.20% | 52,686 | 21.60% | 243,972 |
| Del Norte | 3,104 | 45.80% | 3,673 | 54.20% | -569 | -8.40% | 6,777 |
| El Dorado | 22,447 | 37.76% | 36,994 | 62.24% | -14,547 | -24.47% | 59,441 |
| Fresno | 65,586 | 41.49% | 92,497 | 58.51% | -26,911 | -17.02% | 158,083 |
| Glenn | 1,718 | 29.53% | 4,099 | 70.47% | -2,381 | -40.93% | 5,817 |
| Humboldt | 22,852 | 63.35% | 13,219 | 36.65% | 9,633 | 26.71% | 36,071 |
| Imperial | 12,346 | 59.78% | 8,307 | 40.22% | 4,039 | 19.56% | 20,653 |
| Inyo | 2,095 | 39.76% | 3,174 | 60.24% | -1,079 | -20.48% | 5,269 |
| Kern | 48,311 | 36.63% | 83,581 | 63.37% | -35,270 | -26.74% | 131,892 |
| Kings | 7,601 | 34.35% | 14,525 | 65.65% | -6,924 | -31.29% | 22,126 |
| Lake | 9,783 | 57.51% | 7,227 | 42.49% | 2,556 | 15.03% | 17,010 |
| Lassen | 1,908 | 28.42% | 4,805 | 71.58% | -2,897 | -43.16% | 6,713 |
| Los Angeles | 852,777 | 60.96% | 546,211 | 39.04% | 306,566 | 21.91% | 1,398,988 |
| Madera | 8,898 | 33.41% | 17,733 | 66.59% | -8,835 | -33.18% | 26,631 |
| Marin | 59,755 | 72.05% | 23,176 | 27.95% | 36,579 | 44.11% | 82,931 |
| Mariposa | 2,257 | 34.79% | 4,230 | 65.21% | -1,973 | -30.41% | 6,487 |
| Mendocino | 15,825 | 67.79% | 7,519 | 32.21% | 8,306 | 35.58% | 23,344 |
| Merced | 14,155 | 39.68% | 21,522 | 60.32% | -7,367 | -20.65% | 35,677 |
| Modoc | 794 | 28.41% | 2,001 | 71.59% | -1,207 | -43.18% | 2,795 |
| Mono | 1,430 | 47.51% | 1,580 | 52.49% | -150 | -4.98% | 3,010 |
| Monterey | 44,955 | 62.66% | 26,786 | 37.34% | 18,169 | 25.33% | 71,741 |
| Napa | 21,825 | 59.96% | 14,575 | 40.04% | 7,250 | 19.92% | 36,400 |
| Nevada | 18,202 | 48.96% | 18,977 | 51.04% | -775 | -2.08% | 37,179 |
| Orange | 228,754 | 38.02% | 372,950 | 61.98% | -144,196 | -23.96% | 601,704 |
| Placer | 41,086 | 37.33% | 68,971 | 62.67% | -27,885 | -25.34% | 110,057 |
| Plumas | 2,722 | 39.31% | 4,203 | 60.69% | -1,481 | -21.39% | 6,925 |
| Riverside | 148,339 | 43.27% | 194,494 | 56.73% | -46,155 | -13.46% | 342,833 |
| Sacramento | 173,840 | 54.90% | 142,790 | 45.10% | 31,050 | 9.81% | 316,630 |
| San Benito | 7,473 | 56.62% | 5,726 | 43.38% | 1,747 | 13.24% | 13,199 |
| San Bernardino | 122,636 | 43.77% | 157,568 | 56.23% | -34,932 | -12.47% | 280,204 |
| San Diego | 303,372 | 46.70% | 346,308 | 53.30% | -42,936 | -6.61% | 649,680 |
| San Francisco | 170,385 | 81.48% | 38,730 | 18.52% | 131,655 | 62.96% | 209,115 |
| San Joaquin | 56,494 | 49.77% | 57,005 | 50.23% | -511 | -0.45% | 113,499 |
| San Luis Obispo | 38,880 | 46.96% | 43,914 | 53.04% | -5,034 | -6.08% | 82,794 |
| San Mateo | 105,450 | 68.37% | 48,775 | 31.63% | 56,675 | 36.75% | 154,225 |
| Santa Barbara | 56,329 | 52.84% | 50,280 | 47.16% | 6,049 | 5.67% | 106,609 |
| Santa Clara | 237,646 | 62.91% | 140,088 | 37.09% | 97,558 | 25.83% | 377,734 |
| Santa Cruz | 50,466 | 72.12% | 19,510 | 27.88% | 30,956 | 44.24% | 69,976 |
| Shasta | 18,863 | 34.21% | 36,282 | 65.79% | -17,419 | -31.59% | 55,145 |
| Sierra | 559 | 37.85% | 918 | 62.15% | -359 | -24.31% | 1,477 |
| Siskiyou | 5,701 | 43.18% | 7,501 | 56.82% | -1,800 | -13.63% | 13,202 |
| Solano | 51,733 | 59.38% | 35,393 | 40.62% | 16,340 | 18.75% | 87,126 |
| Sonoma | 95,107 | 68.84% | 43,047 | 31.16% | 52,060 | 37.68% | 138,154 |
| Stanislaus | 39,404 | 44.60% | 48,951 | 55.40% | -9,547 | -10.81% | 88,355 |
| Sutter | 7,025 | 35.32% | 12,864 | 64.68% | -5,839 | -29.36% | 19,889 |
| Tehama | 4,944 | 32.57% | 10,237 | 67.43% | -5,293 | -34.87% | 15,181 |
| Trinity | 1,825 | 48.42% | 1,944 | 51.58% | -119 | -3.16% | 3,769 |
| Tulare | 19,818 | 32.23% | 41,674 | 67.77% | -21,856 | -35.54% | 61,492 |
| Tuolumne | 6,637 | 40.25% | 9,854 | 59.75% | -3,217 | -19.51% | 16,491 |
| Ventura | 92,174 | 47.73% | 100,956 | 52.27% | -8,782 | -4.55% | 193,130 |
| Yolo | 27,971 | 63.42% | 16,131 | 36.58% | 11,840 | 26.85% | 44,102 |
| Yuba | 4,411 | 36.06% | 7,822 | 63.94% | -3,411 | -27.88% | 12,233 |
| Total | 3,810,304 | 53.97% | 3,249,668 | 46.03% | 560,636 | 7.94% | 7,059,972 |
References
[edit]- ↑ Megerian, Chris (July 6, 2014). "John Pérez calls for recount in tight race for state controller". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
- ↑ "8 reasons to care about the recount in the state controller's race". KPCC. July 9, 2014. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
- ↑ Wildermuth, John. "John Pérez concedes in California controller's race". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved July 18, 2014.
- ↑ "Official certified list of candidates" (PDF). Controller. California Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 14, 2014. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
- ↑ Melanie Mason (October 9, 2013). "Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez announces bid for state controller". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 7, 2014.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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.
- 1 2 3 "State Controller" (PDF). California Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 9, 2014. Retrieved March 8, 2014.
- ↑ "Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin plans bid for state controller". Retrieved March 7, 2014.
- ↑ Withdrawn: Tina Mizany for California State Controller (March 7, 2014). "With regret this notice is to inform everyone..." Facebook. Retrieved March 9, 2014.
- ↑ SurveyUSA
- ↑ Field Poll
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ GQR/American Viewpoint
- ↑ Field Poll
- ↑ Field Poll
- ↑ Gravis Marketing
- ↑ Bowen, Debra (December 12, 2014). "Complete Statement of Vote" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 16, 2026. Retrieved May 21, 2026.
- ↑ Bowen, Debra (December 12, 2014). "Controller by County" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 24, 2025. Retrieved May 21, 2026.
External links
[edit]- California State Controller election, 2014 at Ballotpedia
- Campaign contributions at FollowTheMoney.org
Official campaign websites