Candidates for Riverside County Auditor-Controller
2026 Primary Election — June 2, 2026
Office: Riverside County Auditor-Controller — the county's chief fiscal officer, responsible for auditing county departments that spend public funds, managing the county payroll system for 20,000+ employees, administering property taxes (~$5.7B secured tax roll), and serving as the county's fiscal watchdog. Oversees an annual county budget of approximately $7 billion. The office is nonpartisan. Incumbent Ben J. Benoit is running for a second term. Under the top-two primary system, if no candidate receives a majority, the top two advance to November 3 — though Benoit is running unopposed.[1]
Ben J. Benoit Nonpartisan Age ~46 Incumbent Unopposed
Incumbent Riverside County Auditor-Controller • Wildomar
Ben J. Benoit is the incumbent Riverside County Auditor-Controller, first elected in 2022 after defeating 12-year incumbent Paul Angulo. He is the son of the late State Senator and Riverside County Supervisor John J. Benoit, who died of pancreatic cancer in December 2016. Grew up in the Coachella Valley, moved to the Wildomar area in 2006. Small business owner and community volunteer (Wildomar Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club). Elected to Wildomar City Council in 2010 and served for 12 years, including four terms as Mayor (his most recent term starting in 2022). Served as Planning Commissioner before joining the council. VP of Public Affairs for the California Apartment Association (2017-2023), covering Riverside and San Bernardino counties on housing policy. Also served as auditor for the Inland Empire Taxpayers Association. Has served on numerous regional boards: Riverside County Transportation Commission, WRCOG, SCAG, and is currently Chair of the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD). Not a certified public accountant — a fact his predecessor highlighted during the 2022 campaign, but the Registrar of Voters qualified him to run and voters elected him by a decisive margin.[2]
Top Issues / Platform
- Accountability: Implemented reforms recommended by 2022 Grand Jury report that identified 12 ongoing failures in the office
- Full audits: Ensure every county department receives a full audit every two years, not just follow-ups
- Staffing: Fully staffed Internal Audit Division with certified professionals — first time in years
- Collaborative oversight: Changed audit culture from adversarial to partnership-based, focusing on solutions
- Cost savings: Consolidated office space; eliminated wasteful spending on travel and unnecessary expenses
- Transparency: Public-facing reporting on county finances and audit findings[3]
Key Endorsements
- All five County Supervisors (2022 — rare for a challenger)
- Former Supervisor Kevin Jeffries (1st District)
- Supervisor V. Manuel Perez (4th District)
- Former Supervisor John Tavaglione
- Former Supervisor Marion Ashley
- Former Supervisor Tom Mullen
- Numerous city mayors and councilmembers across Riverside County[4]
Accomplishments ▲
- Fully staffed Internal Audit Division — hired 10 certified professionals, filling all vacancies; team members earned CIA and CISA certifications
- Completed 54 audits producing over 100 actionable recommendations since taking office
- Consolidated spread-out staff into single floor at County Administrative Center, cutting rental costs
- Changed audit culture to allow "thank you" in reports and emphasize partnership with county departments
- Certified and delivered $5.7B secured tax roll on time for FY 2024-25
- Eliminated what a Grand Jury called "dysfunctional" relationships between the auditor's office and other county leaders[5]
Potential Criticisms ▼
- Not a certified public accountant — predecessor argued this was a legal requirement (county disputes that interpretation)
- VP role at California Apartment Association raises questions about landlord/developer ties in a county facing housing affordability challenges
- Political dynasty concerns — father was a powerful county supervisor and state senator; all five supervisors endorsed his 2022 campaign
- Relatively new to the office (first elected 2022); long-term track record still developing
Race Summary & Outlook
Incumbent Ben J. Benoit is running unopposed for a second term as Riverside County Auditor-Controller. As the only candidate who filed by the March 6 deadline, he will appear alone on the June 2 primary ballot and is virtually guaranteed re-election unless a write-in campaign emerges.
- Sole candidate: No challengers filed for this race. Benoit will advance automatically to the November general election, where he is also expected to run unopposed.
- First term record: Benoit defeated 12-year incumbent Paul Angulo in 2022 after campaigning on reform. His tenure has focused on rebuilding the Internal Audit Division (fully staffed with certified professionals), completing 54 audits, and changing the office culture from adversarial to collaborative.
- Key vulnerability: Benoit is not a CPA, which his predecessor argued disqualified him (a claim the county disputes and courts rejected). This could be a target if a serious challenger emerges in 2030.
- Political background: Son of the late Supervisor John J. Benoit, who held the 4th District seat until his death in 2016. The Benoit name carries significant weight in Riverside County politics.
Outlook: Benoit will almost certainly serve a second term without opposition. The auditor-controller race will be decided on June 2 unless a successful write-in campaign changes the math.
Primary: June 2, 2026 — General: November 3, 2026