Betty Yee

Betty Yee
Official portrait, 2016
32nd Controller of California
In office
January 5, 2015 – January 2, 2023
GovernorJerry Brown
Gavin Newsom
Preceded byJohn Chiang
Succeeded byMalia Cohen
Member of the California State Board of Equalization
from the 1st district
In office
December 6, 2004 – January 5, 2015
Preceded byCarole Migden
Succeeded byFiona Ma
Personal details
Born (1957-10-19) October 19, 1957
San Francisco, California, U.S.
PartyDemocratic
EducationUniversity of California, Berkeley (BA)
Golden Gate University (MPA)
Chinese name
Chinese余淑婷
Jyutpingjyu4 suk6 ting4
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinYú Shūtíng
Yue: Cantonese
Jyutpingjyu4 suk6 ting4

Betty Ting Yee (born October 19, 1957)[1] is an American politician who served as California State Controller from 2015 to 2023. A member of the Democratic Party, Yee previously served as a member of the California Board of Equalization from 2004 to 2015.

In 2024, Yee annouced her campaign run in the 2026 California gubernatorial election.

Early life and career

Yee's parents emigrated from Guangdong Province, China in 1956.

Growing up in San Francisco, Yee is a graduate of Lowell High School. In 1979, she graduated University of California, Berkeley with a BA in sociology. In 1981, she graduated from Golden Gate University with a Master of Public Administration.[2]

Yee worked for the Legislature and was then Governor Gray Davis's chief deputy director for budget.[1] She then became the Chief Deputy to Board of Equalization member Carole Migden.[3] She was appointed to fill the seat when Migden vacated it after being elected to the state Senate.

Political career

California Board of Equalization

Yee was elected to the California Board of Equalization in 2006 from the 1st Board District and was re-elected in 2010.[4] She led the successful effort to force Amazon to collect sales taxes on online purchases.[1][5]

California State Controller

She ran in the 2014 California State Controller election to succeed term-limited Democratic incumbent John Chiang, who was elected California State Treasurer.[6] In the nonpartisan primary, Republican Ashley Swearengin, the Mayor of Fresno, and Yee finished first and second, respectively. The third-place finisher, Democratic Speaker of the California State Assembly John Pérez, initially called for a recount in 15 counties after official results showed him trailing Yee by just 481 votes out of over 4 million cast; however, he ultimately conceded to Yee.[7][8] Swearengin and Yee competed in the general election, which Yee won by 3,810,304 votes (53.97%) to 3,249,668 (46.03%).

Yee sat on the California State Lands Commission. She opposed fracking for oil.[1]

Yee has served as the Female Vice Chair of the California Democratic Party since May 2021,[9][10] after defeating party secretary Jenny Bach and Victorville Councilmember Blanca Gómez.[11][12]

2026 gubernatorial campaign

See also: 2026 California gubernatorial election

Yee officially announced her campaign on March 27, 2024, with a video highlighting her upbringing as the daughter of immigrants and experience handling the state budget.[13][14]

Electoral history

2006

California Board of Equalization 1st District Election, 2006
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Betty Yee (incumbent) 1,508,130 65.0
Republican David Neighbors 677,942 29.2
Libertarian Kennita Watson 68,405 2.9
Peace and Freedom David Campbell 67,697 2.9

2010

California Board of Equalization 1st District Democratic Primary Election, 2010
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Betty Yee (incumbent) 564,903 74.7
Democratic Ted Ford 149,166 19.7
Democratic Alan Montgomery 43,075 5.6
California Board of Equalization 1st District Election, 2010
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Betty Yee (incumbent) 1,617,369 63.1
Republican Kevin Scott 799,327 31.2
Libertarian Kennita Watson 77,929 3.0
Peace and Freedom Sherill Borg 71,183 2.7

2014

California State Controller Primary Election, 2014
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ashley Swearengin 1,001,473 24.8
Democratic Betty Yee 878,195 21.7
Democratic John Pérez 877,714 21.7
Republican David Evans 850,109 21.0
Green Laura Wells 231,352 5.7
Democratic Tammy Blair 200,532 5.0
California State Controller Election, 2014
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Betty Yee 3,810,304 54.0
Republican Ashley Swearengin 3,249,668 46.0

2018

Nonpartisan blanket primary results[15]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Betty Yee (incumbent) 4,033,208 62.1
Republican Konstantinos Roditis 2,200,942 33.9
Peace and Freedom Mary Lou Finley 261,876 4.0
Total votes 6,496,026 100.0
California State Controller election, 2018[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Betty Yee (incumbent) 8,013,067 65.45 +11.48
Republican Konstantinos Roditis 4,229,480 34.55 −11.48
Total votes 12,242,547 100.0 N/A
Democratic hold

2021

California Democratic Party Female Vice Chair election, 2021[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Betty Yee 1,960 58.97
Democratic Jenny Bach 1,306 39.29
Democratic Blanca Gómez 58 1.74
Total votes 3,324[a] 100.0

Notes

  1. ^ This total does not include the 45 voters who skipped this contest

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Less-funded controller's race is where the real money is". Los Angeles Times. October 23, 2014. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
  2. ^ "Betty Yee For Controller". Los Angeles Sentinel. May 7, 2014. Archived from the original on August 20, 2025.
  3. ^ VOTER'S GUIDE TO THE NOV. 7 ELECTION / Board of Equalization, San Francisco Chronicle, October 29, 2006
  4. ^ "Audi classic parts".
  5. ^ "Amazon.com Fights California Tax Collectors". SFGate. June 30, 2011. Archived from the original on November 12, 2014. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
  6. ^ Josh Richman (April 8, 2013). "Political Blotter: Board of Equalization member Betty Yee making a bid for state controller". San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved March 9, 2014.
  7. ^ Megerian, Chris (July 6, 2014). "John Pérez calls for recount in tight race for state controller". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on August 14, 2017. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
  8. ^ Wildermuth, John. "John Pérez concedes in California controller's race". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on April 24, 2016. Retrieved July 18, 2014.
  9. ^ Garofoli, Joe (April 24, 2021). "Rusty Hicks re-elected to lead California Democratic Party". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  10. ^ Porter, Jacque (April 25, 2023). "Former State Controller Betty Yee intends to run for governor in 2026". FOX 40. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  11. ^ White, Jeremy B. (November 18, 2020). "Controller Yee sparks questions with run for California Democratic Party position". POLITICO. Archived from the original on April 1, 2023. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  12. ^ a b "2021 CADEM Officer Election Preliminary Results" (PDF). California Democratic Party. April 24, 2021. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  13. ^ Luna, Taryn (March 27, 2024). "Betty Yee officially enters the 2026 California governor's race". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 28, 2024. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  14. ^ "Former state Controller Betty Yee announces campaign for California governor". Associated Press. March 27, 2024. Archived from the original on March 28, 2024. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  15. ^ "Statement of Vote" (PDF). California Secretary of State. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
  16. ^ "Controller - Statewide Results". California Secretary of State. Archived from the original on November 29, 2018. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
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