California Commissioner of Insurance
| California Commissioner of Insurance | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Partisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $179,215 |
| 2025 FY Budget: | $354,655,000 |
| Term limits: | 2 terms |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | 4 years |
| Authority: | California Insurance Code, Division 3, Chapter 1, Section 12906 |
| Selection Method: | Elected |
| Current Officeholder | |
California Commissioner of Insurance
Ricardo Lara | |
| Elections | |
| Next election: | November 3, 2026 |
| Last election: | November 8, 2022 |
| Other California Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Controller • Superintendent of Public Instruction • Agriculture Secretary • Insurance Commissioner • Natural Resources Secretary • Industrial Relations Director • Public Utilities Commission | |
The California Commissioner of Insurance is an elected state executive position in the California state government. The commissioner oversees the California Department of Insurance, which regulates the state's insurance industry. The Department of Insurance is charged with licensing insurance companies and reviewing their financial statements, establishing rate regulations, investigating consumer complaints, and punishing insurers with fines or penalties for regulatory noncompliance.
Current officeholder
The current commissioner is Ricardo Lara (D). He was first elected in November 2018 and took office on January 7, 2019.[1]
Authority
The office of commissioner of insurance is established by California statute.[2]
California Insurance Code, Section 12906
|
12906. The governmental agency unit heretofore known as the Department of Insurance in the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency is hereby made an independent department. The Department of Insurance is under the control of the Insurance Commissioner. |
Qualifications
State law requires the commissioner to be "a person competent and fully qualified to perform the duties of the office" without specifically addressing what that means. Additionally, the commissioner may not have any personal financial interest in the California insurance industry.[3] The commissioner must also fulfill the usual requirements for officers in California's civil service: he or she must be a resident of the state, at least 18 years of age, not a convicted felon, and not a member of the Communist Party or any other organization that advocates the overthrow of the U.S. government.[4]
California Insurance Code, Section 12901
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The commissioner shall be a person competent and fully qualified to perform the duties of the office. Neither the commissioner nor any deputy or employee shall during his or their tenure of office be an officer, agent or employee of an insurer or directly or indirectly interested in any insurer or licensee under this code, except (a) as a policyholder, or, (b) by virtue of relationship by blood or marriage to any person interested in any insurer or licensee. |
Elections
Insurance commissioners are elected for four-year terms at the same time as the governor during federal midterm election years (e.g. 2006, 2010, 2014, etc.).[5]
2022
General election
General election for California Commissioner of Insurance
Incumbent Ricardo Lara defeated Robert P. Howell in the general election for California Commissioner of Insurance on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Ricardo Lara (D) | 59.9 | 6,355,915 | |
| Robert P. Howell (R) | 40.1 | 4,249,391 | ||
| Total votes: 10,605,306 | ||||
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Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for California Commissioner of Insurance
The following candidates ran in the primary for California Commissioner of Insurance on June 7, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Ricardo Lara (D) | 35.9 | 2,414,744 | |
| ✔ | Robert P. Howell (R) | 18.1 | 1,216,322 | |
| Marc Levine (D) | 18.0 | 1,208,645 | ||
| Greg Conlon (R) | 16.2 | 1,086,683 | ||
| Eugene Allen (D) | 3.8 | 258,040 | ||
| Nathalie Hrizi (Peace and Freedom Party) | 2.8 | 190,414 | ||
| Veronika Fimbres (G) | 1.9 | 129,762 | ||
| Jasper Jackson (D) | 1.9 | 124,955 | ||
| Robert Molnar (Independent) | 1.4 | 94,163 | ||
| Total votes: 6,723,728 | ||||
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2018
General election
General election for California Commissioner of Insurance
Ricardo Lara defeated Steve Poizner in the general election for California Commissioner of Insurance on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Ricardo Lara (D) | 52.9 | 6,186,039 | |
| Steve Poizner (Independent) | 47.1 | 5,515,293 | ||
| Total votes: 11,701,332 (100.00% precincts reporting) | ||||
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Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for California Commissioner of Insurance
Steve Poizner and Ricardo Lara defeated Asif Mahmood and Nathalie Hrizi in the primary for California Commissioner of Insurance on June 5, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Steve Poizner (Independent) | 41.0 | 2,569,254 | |
| ✔ | Ricardo Lara (D) | 40.5 | 2,538,478 | |
| Asif Mahmood (D) | 13.5 | 846,023 | ||
| Nathalie Hrizi (Peace and Freedom Party) | 5.0 | 316,149 | ||
| Total votes: 6,269,904 | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Peter Kuo (R)
2014
| Insurance Commissioner of California, 2014 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Dave Jones Incumbent |
57.5% | 4,038,165 | |
| Republican | Ted Gaines | 42.5% | 2,981,951 | |
| Total Votes | 7,020,116 | |||
| Election results via California Secretary of State | ||||
2010
Dave Jones (D) defeated five opponents, receiving over 50% of the total votes.[6]
| California Commissioner of Insurance (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Dave Jones (D)
|
4,765,400 | 50.6% | ||
| Mike Villines (R) | 3,540,626 | 37.6% | ||
| Richard Bronstein (L) | 372,676 | 4.0% | ||
| Dina Josephine Padilla (PF) | 293,502 | 3.1% | ||
| William Balderston (G) | 252,301 | 2.6% | ||
| Clay Pedersen (Al) | 198,374 | 2.1% | ||
Term limits
Like all elected California executive officials, the insurance commissioner may not serve more than two terms.[5]
Vacancies
When a vacancy occurs, the governor appoints a replacement to serve out the remainder of the term with the approval of both houses of the state legislature.[7]
Duties
According to the commissioner's website, the duties of the office include:[1]
| “ |
|
” |
Divisions
As of January 12, 2021, divisions within the Department of Insurance included:[9]
- Administration and Licensing Services
- Climate and Sustainability
- Communications and Press Relations
- Community Relations and Outreach
- Consumer Services and Market Conduct
- Enforcement
- Enterprise Planning, Risk and Compliance
- Financial Surveillance
- Healthy Policy and Reform
- Legal/General Counsel
- Policy and Legislation
- Rate Regulations
- Special Counsel to the Commissioner
State budget
- See also: California state budget and finances
The budget for the California Department of Insurance in the 2024-2025 Fiscal Year was $354,655,000.[10]
Compensation
- See also: Compensation of state executive officers
The salaries of California's elected executives are determined by the California Citizens Compensation Commission, a seven-member board appointed by the governor to six-year terms. The commission was established after voters passed Proposition 112, an amendment to the California Constitution, in 1990. Commissioners meet prior to June 30 of each year to determine salary recommendations with changes effective the following December. From 2001 to 2013, the commission voted to increase salaries or benefits five times and decreased or made no changes to salaries eight times.[11]
2023
In 2023, the officer's salary was $179,215, according to the Council of State Governments.[12]
2022
In 2022, the officer's salary was $174,843, according to the Council of State Governments.[13]
2021
In 2021, the insurance commissioner received a salary of $167,796, according to the Council of State Governments.[14]
2020
In 2020, the insurance commissioner received a salary of $167,796 according to the Council of State Governments.[15]
2019
In 2019, the insurance commissioner received a salary of $161,342 according to the Council of State Governments.[16]
2018
In 2018, the insurance commissioner received a salary of $156,643 according to the Council of State Governments.[17]
2017
In 2017, the insurance commissioner received a salary of $152,081 according to the Council of State Governments.[18]
2016
In 2016, the insurance commissioner received a salary of $146,232 according to the Council of State Governments.[19]
2015
In 2015, the insurance commissioner received a salary of $141,973 according to the Council of State Governments.[20]
2014
In 2014, the commissioner received a salary of $139,189 according to the Council of State Governments.[21]
2013
In 2013, the commissioner received a salary of $139,189 according to the Council of State Governments.[22]
2010
In 2010, the commissioner received a salary of $139,189 according to the Council of State Governments.[23]
Historical officeholders
| List of officeholders from 1991-Present[24] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Name | Tenure | Party | ||
| 1 | John Garamendi | 1991-1995 | |||
| 2 | Chuck Quackenbush | 1995-2000 | |||
| 3 | Clark J. Kelso | 2000-2000 | - | ||
| 4 | Harry W. Low | 2000-2003 | - | ||
| 5 | John Garamendi | 2003-2007 | |||
| 6 | Steve Poizner | 2007-2011 | |||
| 7 | Dave Jones | 2011-2019 | |||
| 8 | Ricardo Lara | 2019-present | |||
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms California Commissioner of Insurance. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
Contact info
Sacramento office address:
300 Capitol Mall, 17th Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 800-927-4357
See also
| California | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 California Department of Insurance, "About the Commissioner," accessed January 12, 2021
- ↑ California Insurance Code, "Division 3, Chapter 1, Section 12906," accessed January 12, 2021
- ↑ California Insurance Code, "Division 3, Chapter 1, Section 12901," accessed January 12, 2021
- ↑ California Government Code, "Sections 1020-1042," accessed January 12, 2021
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 California Insurance Code, "Division 3, Chapter 1, Section 12900a," accessed January 12, 2021
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "November 2, 2010 General Election Results," accessed March 12, 2011
- ↑ California Insurance Code, "Division 3, Chapter 1, Section 12900b," accessed January 12, 2021
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ California Department of Insurance, "About the Department," accessed January 12, 2021
- ↑ California Budget, "2024-25 Budget - 0845 Department of Insurance," accessed January 15, 2025
- ↑ California Citizens Compensation Commission, "About the Commission," accessed January 12, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2023 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 15, 2025
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2022 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
- ↑ Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 22, 2022
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2020," accessed January 12, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2019," accessed January 12, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2018," accessed January 12, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2017," accessed January 12, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed November 14, 2014
- ↑ The Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2013, Table 4.11," accessed February 2, 2014
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2010 -- Table 4.11," accessed June 23, 2011
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "History of California Constitutional Officers," accessed January 12, 2021
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