Jennifer Hawks, a Republican, is running for California treasurer in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.

She faces Democrat Eleni Kounalakis.

South Bay voters will see the race on their ballots. The state treasurer issues bonds and sits on the boards of the state's public employee and teacher retirement systems, CalPERS and CalSTRS.

Hawks received 26.5% of the vote, or 1,411,794 votes, in the June 2, 2026, nonpartisan primary to advance to the general election, according to CalMatters.

Hawks says she is running to restore transparency, accountability and oversight to California's bonds, debt and pension investments, according to her statement in the California Official Voter Information Guide.

Candidate information

  • Party: Republican
  • Residence: Bay Area (campaign P.O. Box in Palo Alto)
  • Background: Retired business executive. CalMatters describes Hawks as a Bay Area party activist and former private school administrator. Hawks retired in 2021, according to her campaign website.

Experience and public service

Hawks says she spent her career managing budgets, improving operations and demanding accountability, according to her campaign website.

Her professional background, as described in a Reform California video, includes work as a banking professional, office manager and administrative and finance support at Internet Research Group (later 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 says she opposes continued bond issuance for California's high-speed rail project, calling it a "train to nowhere" and a "fiasco." She says the treasurer has the power to reject bond offerings that are not financially responsible, according to her statements in the Reform California video.

Public pension oversight: Hawks says she would bring the voice of the taxpayer onto the CalPERS and CalSTRS boards. She says she opposes politically driven investing and what she characterizes as gold-plated pensions and fraud, according to her statements in the Reform California video.

Fiscal transparency: Hawks says the treasurer's office can demand transparency, strengthen oversight and shine a light on how taxpayer dollars are managed, according to her statement in the Official Voter Information Guide.

Endorsements

Hawks has received endorsements from the following organizations and individuals, according to BallotReady profile data and the Reform California video:

  • Carl DeMaio / Reform California
  • California GOP
  • Los Angeles County GOP
  • San Bernardino County GOP
  • Santa Clara County GOP
  • Monterey County GOP
  • Alameda County GOP
  • California Republican Assembly
  • Silicon Valley Association of Conservative Republicans
  • California Rifle and Pistol Association

Candidate positions and background are drawn from Hawks' campaign website, the California Official Voter Information Guide and a Reform California video interview. South Bay Tide did not interview the candidate for this profile.