California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara at California Insurance Crisis, May 14, 2025. Photo by Ellie Appleby, Capitol WeeklyOur Capitol insiders are back to answer another pressing question: Should California return to having the Insurance Commissioner be an appointed position rather than being chosen by voters?
Patrick Wolff. Photo courtesy of the Patrick Wolff for Insurance Commissioner campaignIn our ongoing Q&A series with California Insurance Commissioner candidates, this week we bring you answers provided to us by financial analyst Patrick Wolff.
Lala Vargas. Image by Vargas for Commissioner website. In our ongoing Q&A series with California Insurance Commissioner candidates, this week we bring you answers provided to us by teacher Lalo Vargas.
Jane Kim. Image by SF Bicycle Coalition. In our ongoing Q&A series with California Insurance Commissioner candidates, this week we bring you answers from California Working Families Party Executive Director Jane Kim.
Stacy Korsgaden. Photo courtesy of Korsgaden campaign. In our ongoing Q&A series with California Insurance Commissioner candidates, this week we bring you answers provided to us by insurance agent Stacy Korsgaden.
Steven Bradford. Photo from California State Senate Archive. In our ongoing Q&A series with California Insurance Commissioner candidates, this week we bring you answers from former Sen. Steven Bradford.
Sen. Ben Allen. Photo by AP. Capitol Weekly recently asked the leading insurance commissioner candidates to answer a set of identical questions regarding how they would approach this incredibly important and challenging job. The candidates participating are Sen. Ben Allen, former Sen. Steve Bradford, California Working Families Party executive director Jane Kim, Insurance agent Jane Korsgaden, Los Angeles school teacher Lalo Vargas and financial analyst Patrick Wolff. Over the next few weeks we will present their questions and answers individually in alphabetical order by last name, starting with Sen. Ben Allen.
California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara. Photo by Ellie Appleby, Capitol Weekly. Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara announced Friday proposed regulations that seek to strike at a financial model employed by Consumer Watchdog, the crusading consumer advocacy organization that has long faced criticism over money it makes by intervening in insurance rate-setting proceedings.
California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara. Photo by Ellie Appleby, Capitol Weekly. On Wednesday, May 14, Capitol Weekly hosted “California’s Insurance Crisis,” its first in-person gathering of the year and second conference of 2025. Held at the University of California Student and Policy Center, the event featured three panels and a keynote address from the California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara. Discussions ranged from the overall state of the insurance industry to the impact of the Los Angeles wildfires and the path forward.
Image by zimmytwsOPINION – California’s homeowners insurance crisis is making it more difficult to build and buy affordable homes — and in some cases impossible. By restricting the supply of housing, particularly condominiums and multi-family housing, lack of insurance availability is driving up consumer housing costs and limiting the lowest priced homeownership option for consumers.