This year, it seems like everyone in New York is getting primaried. Races for U.S. House and state Legislature are all heating up as progressives battle it out amongst themselves and incumbents try to ward off fresh-faced challengers. And the Democratic primary for New York comptroller has improbably become a marquee contest, with two progressives trying to end a nearly 20-year reign. But… what does the state comptroller actually do?
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The comptroller’s primary responsibility is to manage the state’s pension fund – an investment portfolio of retirement savings for the state’s over 1 million public employees. Beyond that, the office acts as an independent watchdog for the government by conducting regular audits of local and state agencies to uncover any potential abuse and ensure efficiency. They also manage and issue the state debt, and issue an annual report on the condition of the state’s finances. And, as a fun side quest, they return unclaimed funds from old bank accounts and uncashed checks to New Yorkers.
Since Tom DiNapoli assumed the office in 2007, the race for state comptroller every four years has been a snoozefest with DiNapoli going unchallenged by his fellow Democrats for the past four election cycles. This year is different, though, with two progressive candidates – former Kansas legislator Raj Goyle and a former affordable housing nonprofit executive Drew Warshaw – vying to end DiNapoli’s nearly two-decade long tenure.
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Early voting began on June 13 and ends on June 21, with the primary election taking place on June 23. All New York state voters who are registered Democrats can vote in the primary election. The winner will face Republican Joseph Hernandez later this year for the general election on Nov. 3.
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