For nearly two decades, Democrat Thomas DiNapoli has served as state comptroller, almost under the political radar, winning four elections without a lot of drama.

But for the first time, he’s facing two serious Democratic challengers in next month’s primary. Spectrum News NY1 is hosting a debate with the three candidates on Thursday, May 21.

What You Need To Know

Spectrum News NY1 is hosting a debate with the three candidates for state comptroller on Thursday, May 21

One of just four statewide positions, the New York state comptroller is in charge of payroll for state government, running audits of programs, contracts and agency dealings with taxpayer dollars and managing the nearly $300 billion pension fund

Democrat Thomas DiNapoli has held the position for nearly two decades; he now faces challenges from Drew Warshaw and Raj Goyle

One of just four statewide positions, the New York state comptroller is in charge of payroll for state government, running audits of programs, contracts and agency dealings with taxpayer dollars and managing the nearly $300 billion pension fund.

Since he was appointed to the office by the state Legislature in 2007, the Long Island Democrat has sailed to election and then three re-elections without much trouble. But this year, his path to victory might not be so easy with Drew Warshaw and Raj Goyle coming for his job.

Warshaw is a nonprofit housing executive and former Port Authority official, and Goyle is a former representative in the Kansas Legislature, a failed congressional candidate and ex-5BORO Institute board co-chair.

“We have to actually have a system that actually reflects our values and delivers us money. The current comptroller has underperformed the market,” said Goyle during a February interview on NY1.

“We can take out the Wall Street middlemen that are sucking value and not adding value and instead of investing with private equity companies we can invest that money in homes,” said Warshaw in a separate NY1 one-on-one interview.

Their platforms include promises to audit more programs, invest in affordable housing and revise pension fund investments, such as divesting from fossil fuel stocks and foreign bonds, specifically Israeli bonds, in Warsaw’s case.

Both have attacked DiNapoli for his low favorability and name recognition — and perhaps see an opening, especially when looking at poll numbers. In a Siena University poll, when asked if they would reelect DiNapoli or prefer someone else, 28% of voters polled chose the incumbent, compared to 29% who said someone else, while 43% said they didn’t know or refused to answer.

Just 19% of voters said they had a favorable opinion of him, compared to 16% who had an unfavorable opinion and 66% said they did not know or had no opinion.

DiNapoli’s campaign spokesman, Aaron Ghitelman, defended the comptroller’s record, saying that since he first took office, the state pension fund has doubled from $156 billion to $298 billion.

He also highlighted audits of black maternal mortality and government usage of AI.

“Competition is what our democracy is all about. I have a record, proven experience,” said DiNapoli during a February interview with NY1 at the State Democratic Convention in Syracuse.

“If you’re cherry-picking, whether it’s on Palantir or on fossil fuels or on all the other things that people want us to divest from periodically, you don’t have an index anymore you in effect become an active stock picker and that I think is not the best way to manage a large pension fund,” he added in that same interview, defending pension fund investments.

DiNapoli also recently launched his first TV ad that’s part of a $2.1 million ad buy until primary day.

Although he’s rolled out union endorsements, like CSEA or AFL-CIO, DiNapoli was snubbed by the progressive Working Families Party this go-around — a move his opponents took as a win.

All three have qualified and accepted taxpayer-funded campaign dollars. Businessman Joseph Hernandez is running on the Republican line and faces no primary.