Los Angeles City Controller Kenneth Mejia, a TOFA honoree and the first Filipino American elected to a citywide office in Los Angeles, is poised to advance after a strong showing in the city controller race in the California primary.
Mejia, who became controller in 2022, held a significant lead over challenger Zach Sokoloff in early returns, putting him on track to secure another term in the city’s top fiscal watchdog position. With only two candidates running, the controller race is expected to be decided in the primary, with no runoff in November.
The campaign has not been without drama. Mejia faced a well-funded challenge, including an opponent whose campaign benefited from substantial family support, underscoring the uphill nature of his re-election bid in one of the nation’s largest cities. Despite that, Mejia’s grassroots base and emphasis on transparency and accountability helped him maintain a strong position with voters.
Mejia was honored by The Outstanding Filipino Awards (TOFA) at its 13th awards in 2023, held in Los Angeles, recognizing his historic election and his efforts to open city finances to public scrutiny. An accountant and activist by background, Mejia has used his office to publish detailed, accessible data on city spending, homelessness services and public safety budgets.
Elected in 2022, Mejia is the first Filipino American elected official in the city of Los Angeles, the first Asian American elected to a citywide office, the youngest, and the first non-white person to serve as controller in more than a century. His tenure has drawn national attention from advocates of open government and progressive fiscal policy.
Mejia’s strong primary performance signals continued support for his approach and underscores the growing influence of Filipino American leaders in major U.S. cities. For TOFA and the broader Fil-Am community, his trajectory from honoree to high-impact public official reflects a broader trend of younger Filipino Americans stepping into prominent roles in public life.
