Best’s News & Research Service - January 20, 2026 03:03 PM (EST)
More Than a Dozen Candidates Vying for California Insurance Commissioner Post
SACRAMENTO, Calif. //BestWire// - More than a dozen candidates announced intentions to run in the November 2026 election for California insurance commissioner, with the field ranging from experienced politicians and insurance professionals to a public school teacher.
Filing a statement of intention to run for a specific office is needed before a campaign can raise funds and does not indicate a candidate will appear on the ballot, according to Cal-Access, the state's political spending and lobbying platform.
The candidates are vying to replace sitting insurance commissioner Ricardo Lara, who is leaving the role due to term limits. Lara has filed his intention to run for lieutenant governor with the California Secretary of State but has not formally launched a campaign for lieutenant governor.
Lara was first elected to a four-year commissioner term in 2018 and was reelected in 2022 (BestWire, Nov. 9, 2022).
Following are more details on commissioner candidates who have taken more formal steps to announce their campaigns outside of intention to run filings.
California state Sen. Ben Allen, a Democrat representing District 24, would bring a decade of political experience to the role. Allen is seeking the role to help guide the state as natural disasters become more severe, according to his campaign website.
If elected, he would work to strike a balance between consumer protections and insurer sustainability, improve carriers' post-disaster responses, increase transparency at the California Department of Insurance and depopulate the state's Fair Plan.
Former state senator Steven Bradford said in a campaign statement California's insurance market stands at a crossroads as climate-driven risks are demanding the market evolve through sustainable reforms to restore stability, expand access and reward mitigation work.
Bradford's background includes serving as chair of the Senate committees on insurance, banking, financial services, energy, labor and public safety, according to his campaign. He also served in the California Assembly and Gardena City Council.
Stacy Korsgaden, a Republican candidate, has more than 30 years of experience as an insurance professional and financial adviser, serving the San Luis Obispo area, according to her campaign website. Korsgaden has also been active in the community, including past president of the Boys and Girls Club of South San Luis Obispo County and her local Rotary Club, as well as previously serving as the chair of the South County Chamber of Commerce.
If elected, Korsgaden would aim to leverage competition to bring insurance costs down, according to her campaign. She would also work to shorten rate approval timelines to the 60-day national average, strengthen home-hardening standards and champion tax credits to offset growing home and automobile premiums.
Also coming from outside the political arena, Eduardo "Lalo" Vargas is running under the Peace and Freedom Party ticket on a seven-point platform, which his campaign describes as a socialist program. The platform includes steps such as abolishing insurance companies, ensuring free health care for all, overhauling the state's Fair Plan, stopping rate increases and holding executives accountable for "exploitative practices."
Vargas' background includes working as a teacher in the Los Angeles Unified School District, a volunteer firefighter and EMT in College Township, Ohio. He has also been a tenants and immigration community organizer and helped respond to 2025's Los Angeles wildfires, according to his campaign. He also unsuccessfully ran for the LA City Council.
Candidate Patrick Wolff, who is running as a Democrat, has a background running a home and auto insurance business and more than 20 years' experience as a financial analyst reviewing insurance companies and markets, according to his campaign website.
Prior to launching his campaign, Wolff said he undertook a deep study on the industry and spoke with industry experts, analyzed regulations, studied market history, attended conferences and eventually went on to get a California property casualty license to further his understanding.
If elected, Wolff's focus as commissioner would include increasing choice and competition, reducing reliance on the Fair Plan, overhauling the CDI's website, improving transparency at the department, mandating smoke damage protection for home insurance and requiring risk mitigation project discounts, according to his campaign.
(By Steve Hallo, senior associate editor, BestWire: Steve.Hallo@ambest.com)