on october 9, 2013, pérez announced his candidacy for california state controller. pérez finished third in the election, trailing betty yee by 481 votes. after initially calling for a recount in 15 california counties, pérez ultimately conceded to yee more than a month after the election. in late 2014, he was appointed by governor jerry brown as a regent of the university of california; in may 2019, the regents elected him as chairman.