Chen Advances To Runoff For CA Controller

CALIFORNIA — The race for controller in a California primary election doesn't typically generate much interest, but this year's race was among the most interesting. That's because a Republican was able to advance in Tuesday's vote, according to results tallied Wednesday.

Lanhee Chen appeared to qualify for the general election for state controller, where he will likely face Malia Cohen.

According to preliminary results, Chen had garnered 37 percent of the vote as of Wednesday. Cohen had received 21.3 percent of the vote, according to unofficial results.

The race opens the door for Republicans to get a shot at their first statewide office in years.

Early Results For Controller

• Lanhee Chen, Republican (37 percent).
• Ron Galperin, Democrat (10.7 percent).
• Yvonne Yiu, Democrat (16 percent).
• Steve Glazer, Democrat (11.5 percent).
• Malia Cohen, Democrat (21.3 percent).

Ahead of the election, Chen gathered the most interest among voters. As far as funding, Democrat Yvonne Yiu pulled ahead of the other candidates, raising nearly $6.1 million.

"If I put my own money into the race, that makes me independent and the voters will never have questions about whether I have their best interests at heart because I'm not taking lobbyists' money and money from special interest groups," Yiu said in an interview with the Los Angeles Times.

Yiu received at least 16 percent of the vote, according to early results.

Chen, a financial advisor and educator, cited in his platform what he called fraud in the Employment Development Department and questioned how money was being used in public schools, prisons and Medi-Cal.

He identified what he called a lack of transparency around the state's spending.

"There are a lot of people I talk to every day, Democrats, Republicans, independents alike, who don't have faith that state government is for them anymore," Chen said.

Chen has never held an elected position but advised Republican Mitt Romney's 2008 and 2012 presidential campaigns, as well as Steve Poizner's bid in the 2010 gubernatorial race.

READ MORE: What Would Lanhee Chen Do As California Controller?

California is a Democratic fortress where party members hold every statewide office, and its voters outnumber registered Republicans by nearly 2 to 1. Gov. Gavin Newsom and U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla faced little-known competitors on Tuesday.

Newsom will advance to the November general election for governor, with The Associated Press calling the race. Early returns Tuesday showed Newsom with 56.3 percent of the vote.

The state Republican Party's endorsed candidate, little-known state Sen. Brian Dahle, was far behind, with 18 percent of the votes. If he maintained second place, Dahle could face Newsom in November.

Turnout in the nation's most populous state was light despite significant frustration by voters over record-high gas prices, rising crime and a homelessness crisis in cities large and small. Despite those problems, Democrats were expected to maintain their stranglehold on state offices and in the Legislature.

The second-most contested race was for attorney general, which pitted Democratic incumbent Rob Bonta against independent Sacramento County District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert.

Bonta pulled ahead with 54.5 percent of the vote, according to early results.

"There is a feeling that there's sort of an attack that's happening, that California is not enforcing its laws," said Christian Grose, professor of political science and international relations at the University of Southern California. "Maybe some of the left flank of the Democratic Party is leading some of the statewide officials. But also California is a liberal state. It's a place where bleeding edge ideas come from, so it's not surprising that some of the attacks against Democrats would go in that direction."

The stakes were high as the office enforces civil rights laws, goes after businesses committing crimes against consumers such as mortgage fraud, as well as crimes that threaten California's natural resources, and represents the state in U.S. Supreme Court cases.

READ MORE: Surprises Could Be Coming For CA's Controller, Attorney General Races