California is now the fourth-largest economy in the world. It hasn’t been easy to achieve that milestone. But we’ve done it by seizing new opportunities, investing in our workforce and building an environment that attracts investment in both rural and urban areas of the Golden State. 

Agriculture is a major reason for California’s economic boom, contributing more than $59 billion worth of market value. Our farmers produce 400 different products that feed the nation and the world. More than one-third of our nation’s vegetables and over three-quarters of the country’s fruits and nuts are grown in California. No other state comes close.

Our UC, CSU, and Community College systems are ranked among the best public institutions in the country. The AI tech boom, fueled by Silicon Valley’s entrepreneurial spirit, is expanding at quantum leaps, and bringing jobs to rural counties as well.

Thanks to voter support, California has the best children’s hospitals in the world, backed by three bond measures since 1994. We also remain the only place in the world that is robustly funding stem cell research, which is improving and saving lives.

Our state’s credit rating remains strong and stable. Investors eagerly buy our bonds because we pass balanced budgets on time, fully fund our rainy day reserves, and are on track to fully fund our state’s pension obligations.

During COVID, we protected residents, supported small businesses, and invested billions in infrastructure. We built more affordable housing than ever (though much more is needed), offered free money for aspiring college students, launched grants for ADUs, and created a free down payment assistance program for first-time homebuyers whose parents never owned a home.

I was elected California State Treasurer seven years ago. I have spent the past seven years traveling across the state including the Central Valley, meeting people where they live and work. I’m proud that California is a place where people dare to dream big and can achieve the American Dream. We speak more than 200 languages, embrace our diversity, and remain the envy of the nation.

In California, we don’t just dream of a better future — we build it. We believe that success should be shared, that opportunity should be within reach for everyone, and that when we lift each other up, we all rise together. Our story is one of resilience, innovation, and hope — and the best chapters are still ahead.

About the Author

Fiona Ma is California’s 34th state Treasurer. She was elected in 2018 with more votes (7,825,587) than any other candidate for treasurer in the state’s history. She is the first woman of color and the first woman Certified Public Accountant elected to the position.

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