General Election
New York State Comptroller · Statewide
Statewide choice on oversight, pension stewardship and local finances
Thomas P. DiNapoli, comptroller since 2007, seeks another term against Joseph Hernandez. Both campaigns address spending and contract oversight, pension-fund stewardship and local finances; DiNapoli emphasizes his office's record, while Hernandez proposes audits, pension reviews and property-tax-related cost controls. An August Siena likely-voter poll found DiNapoli at 55% and Hernandez at 32%, with 12% undecided or refusing to answer.
Issues
3 issues · 2 candidates · every claim sourced
Oversight of spending and contracts
Central to the raceThe comptroller has constitutional authority to conduct financial, compliance and performance audits of state and New York City agencies and virtually all public benefit corporations. The office generally reviews state agency contracts above $50,000 and certain public-authority contracts above $1 million before approval, making audit scope, contract scrutiny and public follow-up direct tools of the office.
The data behind the debate
New York contract review by award method
Thomas P. DiNapoli
Has pursued anti-corruption and taxpayer-protection work, including investigations, efforts to toughen penalties for officials who abuse public funds, and rotating audits of school districts and BOCES.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
The Comptroller’s office audited eight preschool special-education providers and identified $11.7 million in costs that should be recouped.
New York State Comptroller / Office of the State Comptroller · 2020-02-07 · Audit findings issued; recoupment was recommended, with no later recovery outcome established here.
Joseph Hernandez
Supports aggressive audits of state agencies, public authorities and major programs, pre-payment monitoring with data tools, and contract review before taxpayer dollars go out; says findings should be public and wrongdoing referred to law enforcement.
Joseph Hernandez for Comptroller — Issues ↗Pension fund stewardship
Central to the raceThe comptroller is the sole trustee of the New York State Common Retirement Fund and is accountable for its performance, oversight and management, with investment decisions subject to a fiduciary duty to retirement-system members and beneficiaries. The office therefore controls investment decisions about asset allocation, risk, investment costs and shareholder stewardship, subject to fiduciary and statutory duties to retirement-system members and beneficiaries.
Thomas P. DiNapoli
Supports managing the Common Retirement Fund for retirees while moving its investments toward net-zero greenhouse-gas emissions by 2040 and using shareholder influence to press companies on climate change and board diversity.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
As trustee of the Common Retirement Fund, announced 2024 stewardship priorities and updated proxy-voting guidelines covering climate risk, board diversity, workforce management and governance.
Trustee of the New York State Common Retirement Fund · 2024-04-04 · 2024 stewardship priorities and proxy-guideline updates announced; ongoing engagement is described, but no investment outcome is asserted.
Joseph Hernandez
Supports reviewing pension performance, asset allocation, outside managers and costs; cutting excessive fees; and pursuing a $10 billion Empire Opportunity Fund for New York investments while maintaining fiduciary responsibility to retirees.
Joseph Hernandez for Comptroller — Issues ↗Local finances and property taxes
Also in playNew York's property-tax cap requires local governments and school districts to report information to the comptroller, who sets reporting requirements and reserve rules for excess levies and calculates certain costs and savings when services or local governments are consolidated. The office also publishes a Fiscal Stress Monitoring System that gives local officials and taxpayers early-warning information about budgetary solvency.
The data behind the debate
Fiscal stress across New York municipalities
Joseph Hernandez
Supports protecting the property-tax cap and reducing pressures that raise local taxes through stronger pension performance, cost controls and stricter oversight of state spending that affects counties, municipalities and school districts.
Joseph Hernandez for Comptroller — Issues ↗Thomas P. DiNapoli
Has created the Fiscal Stress Monitoring System to inform taxpayers about local-government finances.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
The Comptroller’s office released Fiscal Stress Monitoring System scores for local governments and used the system to designate entities in fiscal stress.
New York State Comptroller / Office of the State Comptroller · 2025-09-25 · 2024 fiscal-year scores released; the monitoring system remains active.