Candidates for California insurance commissioner say they can fix the state’s coverage crisis

In the wake of devastating wildfires, Californians are facing a property insurance crisis. More than 1 in 5 California homeowners are uninsured because of canceled policies and unaffordable premiums.

In an opinion column last month, legislators representing communities from San Francisco to San Diego are sending the same message: People are being forced to make impossible choices just to stay in their homes.

Given the coverage issues across California, more people might be paying attention to the 2026 race for state insurance commissioner. Here’s what to keep in mind when making your selection.

What does the office do?

The insurance commissioner heads up a department that protects consumers from excessive or discriminatory insurance rates. It also ensures insurers pay claims and much more.

Commissioners play a critical role because of their power to set rates and are limited to serving two four-year terms.

Who is running?

A crowded field of 11 candidates is vying to replace term-limited incumbent Ricardo Lara.

Four candidates running in the race gathered for a forum in Altadena to push for tougher sanctions against insurance companies that they say mishandled claims related to last year’s wildfires in the Los Angeles area.

All 11 answered questions posed by our politics reporters for our voter guide.

What do the candidates think taxpayers should understand about this office?

Sacramento contractor Eric Aarnio believes the best way to help people understand the office is to “increase transparency and give people the ability to learn more about it.”

State Sen. Ben Allen, D-Santa Monica, provided steps for informing the public about the role of state insurance commissioner, explaining his vision to make the work of the office “visible, understandable, and relevant to people’s everyday lives.”

Former Sen. Steven Bradford, D-Gardena, plans to implement a consumer education program in his first 100 days in office, which he called “essential.”

Winchester insurance agent Keith Davis wants to spend more time educating taxpayers, writing that many don’t fully grasp terms used in their home and auto policies.

Westwood consumer advocate and attorney Merritt Farren wrote that no other elected office will have a greater impact on a taxpayer’s financial well-being. He aims to take an “active role” so that the destruction in the Palisades “can’t happen again in California.”

San Jose CEO Robert Howell wants to change that insurance decisions “feel like they’re happening behind closed doors.” He wrote that the office needs a leader who will look out for consumers.

San Francisco attorney and consumer advocate Jane Kim wrote that she will create a “public, searchable database” so taxpayers can make “informed decisions” about which insurer to select.

Grover Beach financial and insurance advisor Stacy Korsgaden explained that the Department of Insurance faces a “structural conflict,” in which the office that is supposed to protect consumers and keep the market healthy “benefits financially when premiums climb.”

Irvine CEO Sean Lee plans to create a public dashboard to explain “the most important things taxpayers actually care about” in plain language. He also wrote he would hold regular public briefings and explain major decisions directly to the public.

Alhambra science teacher Eduardo Vargas believes that “whether or not your insurance premiums go up this year is a political choice made by regulators.” He has plans to deny approval for major rate increases and launch an audit of rate hikes over the last five years.

San Francisco financial analyst Patrick Wolff outlined changes he would make to improve transparency, including a modernization of the Department website, a “much more readable” annual report and an annual letter to the public explaining “key facts and developments in California’s insurance markets.”

An in-depth look at strategy

Four of the candidates submitted op-eds to our opinion team outlining their policies.

State Sen. Allen wrote that his “legislative experience and relationships” will enable him to “hit the ground running.” Highlighting his emergency response to the Palisades Fire, Allen has a four step plan to stabilize the market, hold the industry accountable, transform the Department into a rapid-response agency and reduce risks.

Former Sen. Bradford wrote that “The status quo isn’t working for consumers and businesses alike.” As Insurance Commissioner, Bradford said he will “bring transparency to insurance pricing” and enforce “public explanations by insurance companies anytime they raise rates.”

In her op-ed, front runner and former San Francisco Supervisor Kim said she wants a publicly-run single-payer system, which she calls the “Disaster Insurance for All program.” With this model, Kim said the public would re-invest their dollars into prevention and coverage would be guaranteed for all homeowners.

Insurance commissioner candidate Patrick Wolff wrote that “our political system keeps putting people in charge of insurance regulation who have no insurance experience.” He claims to be the only candidate with a comprehensive plan to address all major lines of insurance.

Making your choice

To help you make decisions about the numerous candidates, measures, propositions and other races on your ballot, our editorial board (made up of opinion writers and editors), makes recommendations every election. The process is completely separate from newsroom reporting and journalists. With the exception of our executive editor, the members of our editorial board are not news reporters or editors.

Sal Rodriguez, the opinion editor for the Southern California News Group’s 11 newspapers, heads the editorial board and guides our stances on public policy and political matters.

Every week, our team analyzes legislation, monitors political developments, interviews elected officials or policy advocates and writes editorials on the issues of the day. Unsigned editorials reflect the consensus of our editorial board, with the aim of offering arguments that are empirically sound and intellectually consistent.

They identify credible candidates through surveys and interviews, deliberate based on our editorial precedent and in light of contemporary realities, and issue endorsements accordingly.

Ultimately, our opinion team endorsed Patrick Wolff for California insurance commissioner. He, according to our team, understands every aspect of insurance and its regulation.

Given the state’s property insurance crisis, are you looking more closely at this race than you have in the past?

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