California Statewide Offices On the 2022 Ballot: What They Do, And Why They Matter

This article was produced with UT Community News, which is produced by Cal State L.A. journalism students and covers public issues on the Eastside and South L.A.

State controller. Insurance commissioner. County supervisor.

Voters' eyes can glaze over at the number of different statewide and local elected officials representing various boards and offices.

What do they all do … and why does it matter?

Here's a guide to understanding some key statewide offices that voters will determine this Election Day, November 8.

Governor

According to the state constitution, the governor of California oversees state legislation, ensures that state laws are enforced, acts as commander-in-chief of the state's military, submits the state's budget, and ensures the state's executive branch is enforcing and issuing laws and regulations for our state.

The governor can also sign or veto new laws.

For instance, after the Supreme Court struck down Roe V. Wade earlier this year, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation that would restrict other states from imposing anti-abortion laws on their residents who come to California for abortions, according to a statement from the governor's office.

Newsom is up for reelection this year on Nov. 8, in what would be his final allowable four-year term. He survived a recall effort in a special election that took place in September 2021.

Newsom is being challenged by opponent Republican Brian Dahle, a member of the California Senate since 2019 who serves the 1st Senate District in rural Northern California, which includes the cities of Redding and Shasta Lake.

Lieutenant Governor

The lieutenant governor acts as governor when the governor is out of the state and, like the country's vice president, assumes the office if the governor is ever incapable of fulfilling their duties.

However, California's governor does not appoint their lieutenant. Voters decide who will take on that role for a four-year term.

Since the lieutenant governor plays an important role in educational matters, parents, guardians, students, teachers and others — including employers — have a stake in who fills this job. For example, the lieutenant governor is a voting member of the Board of Regents of the University of California, the Board of Trustees of the California State University system and the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges system, according to the state's website.

The lieutenant governor also sits on the Calbright College Board of Trustees. Calbright is a state-run online community college that provides training and career-focused education.

Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis, the first woman to be elected to the position, is up for re-election in November against Republican Angela Underwood Jacobs, who is a businesswoman and deputy mayor of Lancaster.

Secretary of State

The secretary of state's job includes overseeing 500 people who work in areas such as overseeing elections, maintaining business registration records, safeguarding the state’s archival information and commissioning notaries public.

The position also is in charge of supervising elections and keeping records online of money from lobbyists and campaigns to promote transparency. Lastly, the position is also responsible for the Advance Health Care Directive Registry and the California Museum, according to the state's website.

This November, California Secretary of State Dr. Shirley N. Weber, a Democrat, is running against Republican Rob Bernosky. Weber was appointed in January 2021 by Governor Gavin Newsom after Alex Padilla resigned to become a U.S senator of California, after that senate seat was vacated by Vice President Kamala Harris.

Attorney General

The attorney general acts as the state's top lawyer and law enforcement official and oversees more than 4,500 lawyers, investigators, sworn peace officers and other employees. The attorney general effectively works for all Californians, from regular people to state officers and beyond with the position being a four-year-term position, with a limit of two terms.

The attorney general also does tasks such as coordinating statewide drug enforcement efforts, supporting criminal investigations and providing forensic science services, according to the state's website.

Rob Bonta is the current attorney general and the first person of Filipino descent to hold the position. He was appointed to the position in April 2021 by Gov. Gavin Newsom when the previous AG, Xavier Becerra, resigned in order to join President Joe Biden's cabinet as Secretary of Health and Human Services. Since this would've been the end of Becerra's term, Bonta is running against Nathan Hochman, who was born in Los Angeles and also was the U.S. assistant attorney general in 2008.

State Treasurer

The state treasurer focuses on money management in California. The state treasurer is responsible for maintaining and calculating the state budget, which currently has a $100-billion historical surplus. The treasurer also provides financing for programs for our schools, housing, hospitals or clinics and other projects that help the citizens of the state to thrive.

The state treasurer oversees the state's Pooled Money Investment Account, which invests money on the state's behalf and for other local governments to help them manage their fiscal affairs.

The Treasurer's office also controls the state's college tuition saving program, which allows parents to create specific savings accounts (a.k.a. "529" plans) for their children for future college expenses.

The current treasurer, Fiona Ma, is also a Certified Public Accountant. She is the first female CPA and woman of color to hold the position. She is running for reelection in November against Republican Jack Guerrero, a councilman in the city of Cudahy.

State Controller

The California state controller acts as the state's fiscal watchdog and administers two of the largest pension funds in the United States and serves on 78 state boards and commissions, including the California Board of Equalization and the Franchise Tax Board, according to the state's website.

Much like a corporate financial executive, the state controller is considered the chief financial officer for the state — which is poised to become the world's fourth-largest economy, according to a press release issued by the office of Gov. Gavin Newsom.

The controller offers financial guidance to local governments, uncovers fraud and abuse of taxpayer dollars and serves as the state's accountant and bookkeeper. While the state treasurer watches the state's money and budget, the controller is in charge of auditing and accounting for funds.

State Controller Betty Yee is not running for reelection, as she has already served a maximum of two terms. She has 35 years of experience in state government. Democrat Malia Cohen, who is chair of the State Board of Equalization, is running against Republican Lanhee Chen, a current chair of the Directors of El Camino Health.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction

The state's superintendent of public instruction and the California Department of Education is responsible for making sure all laws and regulations related to education in California are followed, improving all California public educational programs and making sure all education in California is up to standard, according to the state's website.

The superintendent also currently works with the lieutenant governor (currently Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis) on the University of California Board of Regents as an Ex-Officio Board Member.

Although the office is officially non-partisan — the only statewide one in California — the current state superintendent is Tony Thurmond, a registered Democrat who's running for reelection against Lance Christensen, an education policy executive and former Republican staffer from Provo, Utah, with 15 years of experience as Chief of Staff in the California State Senate as well.

Insurance Commissioner

The Insurance Commissioner's job is to lead the nation's largest state consumer protection agency by protecting Californians from insurance fraud, insurance price gouging and insurance discrimination. The Insurance Commissioner works with 1,400 employees who license 485,000 insurance agents, brokers and business to keep Californians safe and insured.

Regulators tackle a host of issues that affect consumers such as problems related to claims, pricing and availability of insurance — relevant to Californians statewide, due to the risks posed by wildfire, flooding, earthquakes and climate change in the state.

Democrat Ricardo Lara, who is the first openly gay statewide elected official in California history, currently holds the office and is running against Republican Robert Howell, who owns an electronics firm in Silicon Valley.

State Board of Equalization

The State Board of Equalization is responsible for determining property values for tax purposes for public utilities and railroads and for assessing properties in various counties in a uniform way, according to its website. Consistency is important when taxing entities and that revenue is used to support government services people depend on.

At the same time, some have called for eliminating the board. Some of its duties were limited in 2017 following questionable actions at the agency, including allegations of waste and nepotism.

There are five members on the board, including the state controller and four district representatives.

Incumbents representing districts 1, 3 and 4 are being challenged this year; and two people are running for the second district seat.

District 1 represents over half of the eastern side of California with counties including Madeira, San Bernardino and Tulare. It is currently represented by Republican Ted Gaines, who is running against Democrat Jose S. Altamirano.

Gaines is a former California State Senator and California Assemblyman who has led efforts to bring employment to the state of California, while Altamirano is hoping to become the first Latino elected to the position in District 1.

In District 2, which runs from Santa Barbara County to Del Norte County to the north, Democrat Sally J. Lieber is running against Republican Peter Coe Verbica for a seat on the board.

The District 3 area covers most of all Los Angeles County, Ventura County and parts of San Bernardino County. It is currently represented by Democrat Tony Vazquez, who is up against Y. Marie Manvel, an Independent candidate.

Vazquez is the first Latino to hold the position in District 3, a job he has held since its beginning in 2018. Manvel, is the current Commissioner of Santa Monica and a Board Member with the Salvation Army.

Finally, District 4 holds the west side of California counties including Santa Barbara County, San Marin County and Humboldt County. Democrat David Dodson, who runs the board, is looking to unseat incumbent Democrat Mike Schaefer.

Dodson, an environmentalist, has worked previously as a Property Tax Appraiser for the Los Angeles County Assessor's office. Schaefer, a former Republican who is now with the Democrat party, currently runs District 4 and is looking to become re-elected for another term.

Election day is Tuesday, November 8, 2022.