NEW YORK — New York voters will see several statewide races on the ballot this election season, including the state’s top official, the governor, and the state’s top prosecutor, the attorney general.
Voters will also cast their ballots for what many call the state’s top fiscal officer, the comptroller.
The comptroller acts as the state’s checkbook, approving state contracts and payments, running state payroll and managing the state accounting system.
The comptroller is in charge of the more than $250 billion state pension fund, covering over one million state and local workers.
The comptroller’s office regularly performs audits of municipal budgets. For example, in the Southern Tier, a 2025 audit in the town of Windsor found the board did not effectively manage the town’s fund balance or develop a written multiyear financial plan. The office then provides recommendations for the municipality’s financial management and publishes the audit for public transparency.
The office also scores every city, town, and school district each year for fiscal stress, and returns more than $2 million a day in unclaimed funds.
The comptroller also regularly releases economy and revenue reports. A recent report on New York’s mobile sports betting industry found $1.3 billion in revenue from April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026, and an 8.5% jump in problem gambling hotline calls.
Incumbent Democrat Thomas DiNapoli looks to defend his seat in November after winning a contested primary in June.
DiNapoli first entered the comptroller’s office in 2007 after he was appointed to finish out the term of Alan Hevesi. He has successfully run for reelection in 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022.
He will face off against Republican Joseph Hernandez, a Cuban refugee who immigrated to the U.S. at 7 years old. Hernandez describes himself as an entrepreneur, investor, philanthropist, and visionary leader in biotechnology, healthcare, and advanced technology.
Both Hernandez and DiNapoli will appear on the ballot for every voter in New York State, starting when early voting kicks off on Oct. 24 until election day on Nov. 3.
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