Vote 2026: Race for New York State Comptroller
Incumbent Democrat Tom DiNapoli seeks another four years against challenger Republican Joseph Hernandez.
More Stories
New Yorkers have an important decision to make on this year's ballot; who oversees the state's money.
The comptroller's office manages New York's more than $300 billion pension fund, audits state agencies and shapes policy through fiscal power.
Democrat Tom DiNapoli, who has held the position since 2007, is seeking another four years from the voters.
“We’re going through a time of great challenge; tremendous pressure on state governments and local governments, bad policies coming out of Washington affecting us," DiNapoli said.
DiNapoli said he's running for another term because he feels his experience has brought a steady hand to the office. He added that the results back his record of rebuilding trust, protecting taxpayer dollars, fighting corruption and safeguarding New Yorkers' retirement money.
"The comptroller’s office can play a key role in helping our state, in helping our local governments," he said.
Republican Joseph Hernandez believes it's time to shake things up.
The Cuban-born immigrant turned biotech entrepreneur said he's running to reshape the office and give voters something new in Albany.
"[New Yorkers are] seeing a lack of common sense in their current governor, in their current comptroller, in their current attorney general and as I travel the state, that message is really resonating," Hernandez said. "People are just tired of the status quo."
Hernandez believes DiNapoli isn't doing enough in his position and, if elected, said he would do more to check government spending, combat fraud and re-examine how the state invests in its pension.
"I’m going to be utterly aggressive about respecting taxpayers’ dollars," he said.
New York hasn't had a Republican state comptroller since Edward Regan, who resigned in 1993.
Democrats have held the office ever since, including nearly the last two decades under DiNapoli's watch.
The latest Siena College poll released Sept. 24 has DiNapoli with a 56% - 33% advantage over Hernandez. Both candidates gained one percentage point between August and now, but Hernandez has not cut into DiNapoli's 23-point lead, according to the data.
