A Look at Lt. Governor, Secretary of State, Controller, & Treasurer 2022 Primary Candidates
Don't Ignore These Contests
Woo Hoo, folks! Election time is coming quicker than a rabbit being chased by a fox. And there’s nothing this fox likes better than writing about politics.
Statewide political contests are a stepping stone for up and coming politicians. Even if candidates lose at the ballot box, the multiple opportunities for exposure make it a worthwhile endeavor. And, because of lower voter interest, it’s possible for minority party candidates with a disciplined field operation to get past the primary to the general election, where opportunities to meet voters and influencers are greater.
People in these positions oversee the vast bureaucracy working on behalf of the fifth largest economy in the world, and the day-to-day decisions impacting how natural resources are used. And if you want somebody to “show you the money” this is the place to start.
This functional power and the general lack of media scrutiny also provide opportunities for malfeasance on behalf of corporate, big labor, and institutional interests.
Lieutenant Governor
Why you should care- Available to take over if the Governor is unavailable. Voting on the boards of California’s public education systems and serving on a commission that oversees millions of acres of state-owned land and waterways.
Most importantly – Not doing anything that would interfere with ascending to the top spot when the current governor. is termed out.
Eleni Kounalakis - Democrat
Lieutenant Governor
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
She became the first woman Lt. Gov. to sign a bill. Is reportedly doing a dandy job of Not Screwing Up her chances for 2026. I’m voting for her.
Jeffrey Highbear Morgan - Democrat
Businessman/Engineer
Website | Twitter |
He’s barely a Democrat. Buys into GOP culture war gaming. Retweets Darrell Issa.
William Cavett "Skee" Saacke - Democrat
California Trial Attorney
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
He doesn’t inhale. Fiscal conservative.
David Fennell - Republican
Entrepreneur
Website | Facebook | Twitter |
“I support President Trump’s efforts to build a border wall and secure the border.”
Clint W. Saunders - Republican
Mental Health Worker
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Doesn’t think we should have mail in ballots. Trumper.
Angela E. Underwood Jacobs - Republican
Businesswoman/Deputy Mayor
No Internet Presence
Deputy Mayor of Lancaster, Ca. That’s all I could find.
Mohammad Arif - Peace and Freedom
Businessman
Website
Pakistani immigrant. Has been endorsed by the Green Parties of Alameda, Fresno and San Diego. Personal Facebook page says he lives in Casa Grande Arizona.
David Hillberg - No Party Preference
Aviation Mechanic/Actor
No online presence
Perennial candidate. Spews right wing talking points. Hostile persona. “I am totally screwed if I get in and if I don't? Everyone else will be screwed ?”
Secretary of State
What it does. Oversees business filings, and provides information to the public on various entities. Serves as the chief of elections, keeping financial records, maintaining voting systems and educating citizens about their voting rights, along with promoting voter registration and participation.
Why you should care. The voting part is what the MAGA people are all pants-on-fire about; because somebody told somebody on Facebook this is part of the deep state conspiracy. The Big Lie, in case you haven’t heard, is that The Donald won the 2020 election. Why do these folks think he even carried California?
Shirley N. Weber - Democrat
Appointed California Secretary of State
Website | Facebook | Twitter |
Inspirational activist who is fighting the good fight for fair elections, not tainted by The Big Lie. She is a righteous fighter for freedom and totally has my vote.
Rob Bernosky - Republican
Chief Financial Officer
Website | Twitter |
The Regional Vice Chair of the California Republican Party thinks Sidney Powell’s semi-literate views on voter fraud are worth repeating. Thinks referring to Chelsea Clinton as a dog is funny.
Rachel Hamm - Republican
Author
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Wackadoodle advocate for the Big Lie.
James "JW" Paine - Republican
Teamster Truck Driver
Website | Facebook |
Endorsed by the Tea Party California Caucus. Website manages to avoid any mention of voting.
Raul Rodriguez Jr. - Republican
Retired Warehouseman
No Campaign Internet Presence
I did find a YouTube video.It kinda reminded me of a hostage video I saw once. He promises to replace all the voting machines and make sure you can only vote once.
Gary N. Blenner - Green Party
Teacher
Facebook | Twitter |
Favors proportional representation by party, ranked choice voting for other races, public financing of campaigns.
Matthew D. Cinquanta - No Party Preference
Private Investigator
Website | Facebook | Instagram
Big Lie kinda guy. Eliminate voting machines, no unfettered vote by mail; yada-yada.
Controller
Why you should care. The State Controller is the Chief Fiscal Officer, serving as the state’s independent fiscal watchdog, offering fiscal guidance to local governments, and uncovering fraud and abuse of taxpayer dollars. What the controller says or does can have an influence on the public perception of executive branch performance.
This position can be a step up the political ladder, with Senator Alan Cranston and Gray Davis serving as recent examples. The GOP thinks this contest is their big chance; with several well-known Democrats in the race, their guy has a strong chance of advancing through to the general election.
Malia M. Cohen - Democrat
California State Board of Equalization Member
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
She’s definitely on her way up the ladder; prior to her position on the Equalization Board, she was President of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Says that addressing equity will be a cornerstone priority of her office. Endorsed by the State Democratic Party.
Ron Galperin - Democrat
Controller, City of Los Angeles/Attorney
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Responsible for Checkbook LA: a first-of-its-kind tool making every single good and service purchased by the City of Los Angeles publicly searchable. Yay for transparency! He has my vote, for now.
Steve Glazer - Democrat
California State Senator
Website | Facebook | Twitter |
He’s termed out in the Senate in 2024. Been okay on social issues, not so much on environmental issues. He’s a moderate, claiming to be progressive. Agreed on seven votes out of ten on issues tracked by the California Chamber of Commerce
Yvonne Yiu - Democrat
Chief Financial Officer
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
She’s an immigrant, and is making financial literacy a big part of her campaign.
Lanhee Chen - Republican
Fiscal Advisor/Educator
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Hold on to your hats, folks. What we have here is a Republican who might actually win a statewide contest. The last time that happened, we were still protesting the war in Iraq. Anyhow, he scored the endorsement of the Los Angeles Times.
Laura Wells - Green Party
Financial Analyst
Website | Facebook | Twitter |
She’s run for this seat three times, and once for Governor. A long-time political activist who’s never lost her bearings. If you are one of those none-of-the-above voters, she’s an attractive choice.
Treasurer
Gimme some money…The office manages approximately $3.2 trillion in banking transactions, sells bonds and manages bond debt, along with the state’s investment portfolio, which has averaged more than $100 billion in assets.
Fiona Ma - Democrat
State Treasurer/CPA
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
She’s got the political pedigree. She’s got the (biggest) campaign war chest. And she’s got some baggage. There’s a messy situation involving a police union pension. There’s the sexual harassment lawsuit. And she’s innocent until proven guilty. I gotta go with the Democrat in this race.
Andrew Do - Republican
Chief Financial Officer
Website | Facebook | Twitter |
Do was an Orange County Supervisor, CFO of his own company, with an uplifting immigrant story. He, too, has baggage. The state’s elections watchdog closed an investigation with no determination, concerning back and forth money transferred with the local GOP.
Jack M. Guerrero - Republican
Councilmember/CPA/Economist
Website | Facebook | Twitter |
He lost an assembly race in 2012, lost a race for Treasurer in 2018, and State Senator in 2019.
Posted a quote from Trump about Jan 6 being a conspiracy… yada, yada.
Meghann Adams - Peace and Freedom
School Bus Driver
Website |
She is the president of SMART 1741, the San Francisco school bus drivers’ union. Her campaign is also endorsed by the Party for Socialism and Liberation, of which she is a member.
Tomorrow: Attorney General, Insurance Commissioner, and Superintendent of Education
