Karina Rodriguez
Editor-in-Chief
On the Nov. 3 ballot, California voters will get to choose between two Democratic candidates for insurance commissioner, Ben Allen and Jane Kim.
Allen’s priorities are to restore a competitive insurance market, ensure Californians are treated equitably after natural disasters, and build resilient communities. He is endorsed by California’s two U.S. senators, Democrats Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla. Rep. Judy Chu, D-Claremont, has also endorsed him.
Kim’s priorities are to lower insurance costs, enforce minimum coverage standards and have fast and fair claims.
Kim’s endorsements include Sen. Bernie Sanders, D-Vermont, California Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis and labor leader and civil rights icon Dolores Huerta.
Besides voting for governor, attorney general and representatives in Congress, voting for insurance commissioner is consequential.
California’s insurance commissioner leads one of the world’s largest insurance markets.
The job is to oversee the California Department of Insurance, which regulates home, auto, workers’ compensation, health and other types of insurance.
The insurance commissioner is empowered by voters to make sure insurance policies are affordable, available and not deceitful.
The insurance commissioner also prevents insurance monopolies by strictly regulating insurance rates and licensing insurance agents and brokers.
The commissioner is charged with upholding antitrust and consumer protection laws under Proposition 10, the voter-approved law that requires that the state of California must approve before insurance companies can raise rates on auto, home, and casualty insurance.
The position of insurance commissioner is charged with saving the residents of the state of California billions of dollars.
According to the 2025 Annual Report of the Commissioner, “From 2019 through 2025, the Department’s expert review of insurance rate filings saved Californians $6.6 billion in premiums and secured $3.3 billion in refunds for drivers during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The California Department of Insurance negotiates insurance prices with medical insurance companies. The Department reviews, rates and discusses concerns with insurance carriers, who voluntarily agree to reduce rates, according to the Annual Report, which also found that this process saved Californians a total of $42.7 million in medical insurance in 2025.
The current California Insurance Commissioner is Democrat Ricardo Lara, who is termed out in November after serving since 2019.
University of La Verne accounting and finance instructor Rick Hasse said it is important for Californians to learn about candidates’ backgrounds to understand their interests and intentions.
“When you’re getting ready to vote, read statements: What they’re saying?” Hasse said. “You should go and try to find out any research (on) these individuals and what their history is.”
Hasse emphasized how costly insurance is over a lifetime, how we have multiple insurances that range from health to auto insurance.
“It’s a very political position because you have huge health insurance providers in the state and you have huge life insurance, automobile insurance,” Hasse said. “Next to rent and food, insurance is one of our biggest expenses.”
All 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia have insurance commissioners.
In some states they have a different title, such as Commissioner of Financial Services, as in Colorado.
Many Californians are unsatisfied with their policies in multiple insurance sectors.
La Verne Professor of Finance Adham Chehab advises people to thoroughly understand their insurance policies, as once the policy is purchased, very little can be done to modify the policy.
“Before they buy the insurance, read it and make sure it provides the coverage you need,” Chehab said. “After the loss, the person is limited to what the policy covers.”
Chehab also put into perspective the high cost for insurance in California compared with other states.
“California insurance premiums are much higher than other states without better coverage,” Chehab said. “In California we have fewer (homeowners) insurance companies compared to other states, and some insurance companies left the state.”
Professor of Political Science Jason Neidleman noted that insurance is essential for California to function.
“Insurance commission is really important because insurance is almost a public utility,” Neidleman said. “You … can’t build anything without insurance, and we can’t make investments without insurance.”
The insurance commissioner acts in moments of natural disaster.
“We need a good insurance commissioner to keep rates low and to ensure you get paid when something happens,” Neidleman said. “During the fires I had property damage, and my insurance company wouldn’t pay,” Neidleman said. “I’ve been paying them for decades.. and they refused (my claim). They decided that the amount they owed was just a couple hundred dollars below my deductible so I got nothing… zero dollars.”
In addition to regulation and negotiation, the California Department of Insurance does the following:
- Review proposed insurance rates
- Examines Californians’ financial stability
- Licenses insurance agents and brokers
- Investigates insurance fraud
- Handles consumer complaints
- Takes action against insurers when necessary
The Department and insurance commissioner do not regulate Covered California, created under the Affordable Care Act of 2010, which says that Californians should spend no more than 8.6% of their household income on health insurance.
The California Department of Insurance also has an insurance program for income eligible drivers.
California’s Low Cost Auto Insurance Program provides affordable liability insurance for income eligible drivers that have a good driving record.
This program is one of the methods the state of California uses to make sure drivers meet the basic liability insurance requirements as it is illegal to drive without auto insurance.
The deadline to register to vote is Oct. 19. You can vote either in person or through a mail-in ballot. If you miss the deadline, you can still file a provisional ballot on election day.
For more information on the candidates for insurance commissioner, visit voterguide.sos.ca.gov.
Karina Rodriguez can be reached at karina.rodriguez3@laverne.edu.
Karina Rodriguez is a senior journalism major with a concentration in broadcast journalism, and editor-in-chief of the Campus Times. She has previously served as sports editor, social media editor, arts editor and a staff writer.
