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Betty Yee

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Betty Yee
Yee in 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 (age 67)
San Francisco, California, U.S.
Political 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 T. Yee (born October 19, 1957)[1] is an American politician and member of the Democratic Party who served as California State Controller from 2015 to 2023. She previously served as a member of the California Board of Equalization from 2004 to 2015. She won the open seat for Controller in the 2014 election, with 54% of the vote.[2] Yee won reelection in 2018, defeating Republican Konstantinos Roditis in a landslide, and she served as Controller until January 2, 2023.

Yee has served as the Female Vice Chair of the California Democratic Party since May 2021,[3][4][5][6] after defeating party secretary Jenny Bach and Victorville Councilmember Blanca Gómez.[7][8]

In March 2019, Yee announced her intention to run in the 2026 California gubernatorial election.[9] In April 2023, after fellow contender Lieutenant Governor of California Eleni Kounalakis announced her bid for governor, Yee reiterated her plans to run for governor, and formally launched her campaign in March 2024.[10][6][11]

Early life and career

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A native of the Parkside district of San Francisco, Yee's parents emigrated from Guangdong Province, China in 1956. She handled the books in her family's neighborhood laundry and dry cleaning business while she grew up.[1]

Originally speaking no English, she spent her grade school years in the San Francisco Unified School District and graduated from Lowell High School before attending the University of California, Berkeley as an undergraduate, attaining a bachelor's degree in sociology. She went on to attend Golden Gate University, from which she earned a master's degree in public administration.

Yee worked for the Legislature and was then Governor Gray Davis's chief deputy director for budget, later saying that "My role was to present all the options possible. Politics came into play. The governor and legislative leaders made decisions that sometimes didn't agree with our recommendations."[1] She then became the Chief Deputy to Board of Equalization member Carole Migden.[12] She was appointed to fill the seat when Migden vacated it after being elected to the state senate.

Political career

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California Board of Equalization

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Yee was elected in her own right to the California Board of Equalization in 2006 from the 1st Board District and was re-elected in 2010.[13] She led the successful effort to force Amazon.com to collect sales taxes on online purchases, the so-called "Amazon tax".[1][14][15]

California State Controller

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She ran for California State Controller in the 2014 election to succeed term-limited Democrat incumbent John Chiang, who was elected California State Treasurer.[16] In the nonpartisan blanket 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 more than a month after the primary.[17][18][19] Swearengin and Yee competed in the general election, which Yee won by 3,810,304 votes (53.97%) to 3,249,668 (46.03%).

As State Controller, Yee sat on the California State Lands Commission. She supports investing in alternative energy and opposes fracking for oil.[1] An advocate of tax reform, she opposes extending Governor Jerry Brown's temporary tax increases, instead proposing to lower the state sales tax and extend it to currently untaxed services.[1]

Yee also serves as Vice President of California Women Lead, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization for women holding or interested in running for political office.[20]

Betty Yee sits on the board of trustees for the State Teachers Retirement System.[21]

Yee has served as the Female Vice Chair of the California Democratic Party since May 2021,[3][4][5][6] after defeating party secretary Jenny Bach and Victorville Councilmember Blanca Gómez.[7][8]

2026 gubernatorial campaign

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See also: 2026 California gubernatorial election

In March 2019, Yee, Lieutenant Governor of California Eleni Kounalakis, and California State Treasurer Fiona Ma announced they would run in the 2026 California gubernatorial election.[9] In April 2023, after Kounalakis announced her bid for governor, Yee confirmed her plans to run for governor, though the formal launch would not happen until later in 2023.[10][6] Meanwhile, Ma would instead run for lieutenant governor.[10]

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.[11][22]

Personal life

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On July 13, 2018, Yee and her husband, Rabbi Steven B. Jacobs, were involved in a three-car accident in the Posey Tube between Alameda and Oakland. Yee and her husband as well as their driver, a California Highway Patrol officer, were transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The vehicle Yee was riding in was rear-ended by another vehicle and was in turn pushed forward into the vehicle in front of it. The driver of the rear-ending vehicle was suspected to be under the influence of marijuana.[23]

Electoral history

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Yee's first official photo as State Controller

2006

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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

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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

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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

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Nonpartisan blanket primary results[24]
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[25]
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

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California Democratic Party Female Vice Chair election, 2021[8]
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

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

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Less-funded controller's race is where the real money is". Los Angeles Times. October 23, 2014. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
  2. ^ Pritchard, Justin, Election 2014: Democrat Betty Yee elected California controller, Los Angeles Daily News, November 5, 2014
  3. ^ a b Garofoli, Joe (2021-04-24). "Rusty Hicks re-elected to lead California Democratic Party". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2023-04-25.
  4. ^ a b Knapper Jr, Owen; Romo, Issabella; Schaaf, Libby; Yee, Betty (2023-04-14). "Youth Talk: Passing the Torch". Commonwealth Club of California. Retrieved 2023-04-26.
  5. ^ a b "Betty Yee: Vice Chair". California Democratic Party. Retrieved 2023-04-25.
  6. ^ a b c d Porter, Jacque (2023-04-25). "Former State Controller Betty Yee intends to run for governor in 2026". FOX 40. Retrieved 2023-04-25.
  7. ^ a b White, Jeremy B. (2020-11-18). "Controller Yee sparks questions with run for California Democratic Party position". POLITICO. Retrieved 2023-04-26.
  8. ^ a b c "2021 CADEM Officer Election Preliminary Results" (PDF). California Democratic Party. 2021-04-24. Retrieved 2023-04-25.
  9. ^ a b Marinucci, Carla (2019-03-26). "3 top Democrats say they'll run for California governor in 2026". POLITICO. Retrieved 2023-04-26.
  10. ^ a b c Bollag, Sophia (2023-04-25). "Former California Controller Betty Yee says she will run to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2026". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2023-04-26.
  11. ^ a b Luna, Taryn (March 27, 2024). "Betty Yee officially enters the 2026 California governor's race". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  12. ^ VOTER'S GUIDE TO THE NOV. 7 ELECTION / Board of Equalization, San Francisco Chronicle, October 29, 2006
  13. ^ "Audi classic parts".
  14. ^ "E-retailers thrive on unfair advantage". SFGate. July 31, 2011. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
  15. ^ "Amazon.com Fights California Tax Collectors". SFGate. June 30, 2011. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
  16. ^ 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.
  17. ^ Megerian, Chris (6 July 2014). "John Pérez calls for recount in tight race for state controller". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  18. ^ "8 reasons to care about the recount in the state controller's race". KPCC. 9 July 2014. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
  19. ^ Wildermuth, John. "John Pérez concedes in California controller's race". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 18 July 2014.
  20. ^ California Women Lead: Board and Staff Archived October 19, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
  21. ^ Jacobius, Arleen (2022-12-10). "CalPERS, CalSTRS need fresh skills to take on new risks, Betty Yee says". Pensions & Investments. Retrieved 2023-04-26.
  22. ^ "Former state Controller Betty Yee announces campaign for California governor". Associated Press. March 27, 2024. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  23. ^ Oakland CHP Office Statement on Posey Tube Accident
  24. ^ "Statement of Vote" (PDF). California Secretary of State. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
  25. ^ "Controller - Statewide Results". California Secretary of State. Archived from the original on November 29, 2018. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Betty Yee.
Political offices
Preceded by Member of the California State Board of Equalization
from the 1st district
2004–2015 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Controller of California
2015–2023 		Succeeded by
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