State insurance

A novice Republican and a scandal plagued Democrat face off to be the state's next insurance commissioner.

Howell said he supports stricter restrictions on abortions than allowed under California law currently, saying they should be limited to the first trimester only and in cases where the mother’s life is in danger. “I am proud of the fact that I’ve implemented a rigorous review process to really catch any incoming contributions that don’t reflect my values,” Lara said. He said Lara’s well-documented fundraising issues were “a Christmas present when I looked into the guy I’m up against.” Lara’s campaign highlighted his work to save California drivers $2.4 billion by requiring auto insurance companies to refund some of the premiums they collected from customers who largely stayed home during the pandemic, which reduced car accident claims. “And experience is critical, not only to address the issues of holding insurance companies accountable, but making sure that there is an advocate that is going to look out for every Californian.” The investigation was prompted by a complaint filed by the advocacy group Consumer Watchdog in May. “And insurance commissioners should be focused on the people of California.” He was elected to the Assembly in 2010 before terming out of the state Senate in 2019. California’s major newspaper editorial boards cited Lara’s ethical blunders when handing their coveted endorsements to Levine in the primary. [billing taxpayers for a Sacramento apartment](https://www.politico.com/states/california/story/2019/09/05/insurance-commissioner-charging-rent-for-second-residence-to-taxpayers-1167813) while living in Los Angeles. The state’s insurance commissioner regulates a $310-billion industry and is particularly influential in helping homeowners in wildfire-prone areas maintain their insurance. Lara’s challenger, Robert Howell, is a cybersecurity equipment manufacturer who has never held public office and concedes he knows little about the insurance commissioner job or the industry he would be regulating.