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Morgan proposed that the controller audit claims and payments related to hospice fraud, with claim-lineage reviews, risk flags, public exception registers, and recovery of improper payments.

Politico reported that California McClatchy editorial boards, including those of the Sacramento Bee and Fresno Bee, backed Morgan, citing his investment background. The boards noted Cohen had not responded to their interview requests.

At a Republican statewide candidate forum in Rancho Mirage, Morgan focused on spending transparency and fraud, claiming his plan to put spending online could save about $80 billion a year. That figure is his estimate, not independently established.

Morgan said the controller should audit claims and payments touching the Treasury, and proposed claim-lineage reviews, risk flags, public exception registers, and recovery of improper payments, with goals of publishing material state payments and tracking program outcomes.

ABC7 reported on Morgan's campaign-commissioned poll showing a single-digit gap with Cohen, but cautioned that it was commissioned by his campaign. No independent general-election poll was found in available sources.

In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Morgan proposed a real-time public spending system using blockchain and AI to show state contract prices, recipients, and flag unusual transactions or potential conflicts. He also called for continuing audits of high-dollar, high-risk programs.

The State Auditor reported problems in the Controller's Office involving collection of more than $33,000 in employee salary overpayments and controls over remote out-of-state employees. Morgan criticized Cohen's oversight in response. The findings concern the incumbent's office, not Morgan.

Morgan said he wanted to return the $15 billion in unclaimed property the state holds to its rightful owners. His campaign also publishes contributions on a public blockchain ledger.

A voter guide citing California Secretary of State data reported Cohen had more than $1.6 million in cash on hand while Morgan had roughly $140,000.

A survey of 828 likely voters conducted September 15–16, commissioned by Morgan's campaign and conducted by pollster David Wolfson, put Cohen at 49.5% and Morgan at 41.2%, with 9.4% undecided. After additional information, the margin shifted to 48.7%–42.5%. A model allocating undecided voters put Cohen at 52.3% and Morgan at 47.7%. Margin of error was ±4 points. The poll was campaign-commissioned and not an independent measure of the race.

In the June 2 top-two primary, incumbent Malia Cohen received 54.7% and Morgan 41.1%, qualifying both for the November 3 general election ballot. Meghann Adams received 4.2%.