Background: Jennifer Hawks is a retired business woman who is running for California's State Treasurer's office under the Republican Party. She resides in the Silicon Valley area, she spent most of her career outside of conventional politics, serving on the execute leadership team at Sacred Hearts School in Atherton. This is a private institution heavily favored by the Bay Area's venture capital community. 

Controversy: Hawks has the support of the California Republican Party, but her primary opponent, David Serpa, says the party cheated to help her win that endorsement. He claims party leaders broke their own rules at the state convention to block other candidates. This has caused a lot of fighting between different Republican groups.

Goals: Jennifer Hawks wants to stop government waste and make California more affordable by carefully auditing how tax dollars are spent. She plans to check the finances of state politicians, cut down on reckless government investments, and lower costs for families through childcare and healthcare tax breaks.

Background: Eleni Kounalakis is the Democratic Candidate for Treasurer. She was the 50th Lieutenant Governor of California being the first woman to accomplish this achievement. She was also an ambassador of President Obama to the Republic of Hungary. She specializes in international trade and immigration earning her Bachelor's at Dartmouth and Master's for Business in Berkeley. 

Controversy: Eleni Kounalakis has pushed against the Trump Administration, asking to remove him for the 2024 presidential ballot. She has also faced scrutiny against her Real Estate investments, lobbying clients while serving as a State Officer. She is also a critic of Pro-Palestine Protests calling them "devastating" to the Jewish student population. 

Goals: Some of her policies include saving the coast, standing up against Trump's hateful agenda, and helping make education more accessible. She believes her grasp on Treasurer Duties and her determination make her the best candidate to become treasurer.