California’s insurance system is at a crossroads. To restore a solvent, competitive marketplace while keeping rates fair and affordable, we must strike the right balance between protecting consumers and ensuring insurers can sustainably operate in the state. I wrote Proposition 4, the clean drinking water and fire prevention bond measure that voters overwhelmingly passed in 2024, to address the ever-increasing risk of climate-related disasters — especially fires — which have driven up costs for residents and led to insurers cutting back on coverage for Californians. This is just the first step to addressing this crisis. 

After a disaster, Californians deserve timely, fair treatment from their insurers—not months of bureaucracy when they’re trying to rebuild their lives. That's why I'm refusing to accept insurance industry contributions in this campaign.

Families have enough hardship to contend with in the wake of a devastating disaster or simply in the aftermath of any loss. Uncertainty regarding navigating a complex and often opaque insurance system frequently makes a challenging time worse. I will make it a top priority to modernize the Department of Insurance and make it work for Californians. 

The FAIR Plan was never meant to be a long-term solution — it’s a backstop. However, in recent years, this “insurer of last resort” has tripled in size, becoming one of the state’s largest insurers. Since all Californian policyholders cover the cost of this program, not just those on the Plan, this growth is driving up rates for everyone. The goal must be to transition as many Californians as possible back into the traditional insurance market.