Jennifer Hawks, a Republican who describes herself as a retired business executive, is running for California Treasurer in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. She faces Democrat Eleni Kounalakis.
Hawks received 26.5% of the vote (1,411,794 votes) in the June 2 nonpartisan primary to advance to the general election, according to CalMatters.
Hawks said she is running on a platform of restoring transparency, accountability and oversight to California's bonds, debt and pension investments, according to her candidate statement in the Official Voter Information Guide.
Candidate information
- Party: Republican
- Residence: Bay Area (campaign P.O. Box in Palo Alto)
- Background: Retired business executive, per her campaign; CalMatters describes Hawks as a Bay Area party activist and former private school administrator
Experience and public service
Hawks said she spent her career managing budgets, improving operations and demanding accountability, according to her campaign website. She retired in 2021.
Hawks described her professional background in a Reform California interview. Her roles included banking professional, office manager and administrative and finance support at Internet Research Group (acquired by Jupiter Communications), and assistant secretary to the board at Sacred Heart School in Atherton.
On the issues
High-speed rail and California bonds: Hawks said she opposes continued bond issuance for California's high-speed rail project, calling it a fiasco. She said the treasurer has the power to reject bond offerings that are not financially responsible, according to the Reform California interview.
Public pension oversight: Hawks said she would bring the voice of the taxpayer onto the CalPERS and CalSTRS boards. She said she opposes politically driven investing and what she characterized as gold-plated pensions and fraud, according to the Reform California interview.
Fiscal transparency: Hawks said the treasurer's office can demand transparency, strengthen oversight and shine a light on how taxpayer dollars are managed, according to her candidate statement in the Official Voter Information Guide.
Endorsements
Hawks has received endorsements from the following organizations, according to BallotReady profile data and the Reform California interview:
- Carl DeMaio / Reform California
- California GOP
- Los Angeles County GOP
- San Bernardino County GOP
- Santa Clara County GOP
- Alameda County GOP
- Monterey County GOP
- California Republican Assembly
- Silicon Valley Association of Conservative Republicans
- California Rifle and Pistol Association
Candidate information is drawn from the Official Voter Information Guide, the candidate's campaign website, CalMatters reporting, BallotReady data and a Reform California interview. The Newport Signal did not interview the candidate for this profile.
