California Insurance Commissioner Candidates Vow Reform, Fixes for FAIR Plan

At a Pacific Palisades forum, several candidates discussed wildfire risks and more transparency on rate changes.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 3:52am

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Top contenders in the state insurance commissioner's race squared off at a Pacific Palisades forum, where they discussed wildfire risks and how they would address soaring premiums for homeowners in the aftermath of devastating California wildfires. The candidates, including Democrats Benjamin Allen, Steven Bradford, and Patrick Wolff, as well as Republican Merritt Farren, covered a range of topics such as modernizing firefighting technologies and increasing transparency at the Department of Insurance.

Why it matters

The 2026 insurance commissioner's race is crucial as California homeowners continue to struggle with the aftermath of devastating wildfires and the state's insurer of last resort, the FAIR Plan, seeks significant rate hikes. The candidates' proposals to reform the system and provide more affordable coverage options could have a major impact on residents across the state.

The details

The forum, sponsored by the Palisades Recovery Coalition, invited a narrow field of candidates, including three Democrats: state Sen. Benjamin Allen, former state Sen. Steven Bradford, and Patrick Wolff, a financial analyst with an insurance background. The lone Republican was Merritt Farren, a media and technology attorney who lost his home in last year's Palisades fire. The candidates discussed a range of topics, including calls for modernizing firefighting technologies and more transparency for the Department of Insurance in rate adjustment cases.

  • The forum was held on Friday, March 27, 2026.
  • The June 2 insurance commissioner's primary will determine the top two finishers, who will then advance to the November 3 general election.

The players

Benjamin Allen

A 48-year-old attorney in Santa Monica and state senator who had a front-row seat to the January 2025 fires in the coastal city where he lives.

Steven Bradford

A 67-year-old former state senator who grew up in Gardena and got his political start 26 years ago with a city council post.

Patrick Wolff

A 58-year-old San Francisco financial analyst with an insurance background.

Merritt Farren

A 65-year-old media and technology attorney who lost his home in last year's Palisades fire and became an advocate while fighting State Farm's controversial rate hike request.

Karen Bass

The mayor of Los Angeles, who was criticized by Farren for 'failed leadership' and insufficient firefighting resources during last year's fires.

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What they’re saying

“There's a lot of Sacramento bureaucracy that's woefully behind with technology. There's exciting things happening in the fire prevention space, like water catapults that can use AI to determine exactly where all hot spots are coming during an influx of a fire, and new types of drones to drop water tactically based on incoming data to control a burn.”

— Benjamin Allen, State Senator

“We are going to show why these rates are increasing. We need a gold standard. I've talked to homeowners who have done everything that they were asked to do, and they still can't get a discount.”

— Steven Bradford, Former State Senator

“It led to the destruction of her city, and she should have resigned.”

— Merritt Farren, Media and Technology Attorney

“State Farm has been one of the most difficult companies to deal with. The Department of Insurance let the market get so upside down.”

— Patrick Wolff, Financial Analyst

What’s next

The top two finishers in the June 2 insurance commissioner's primary will move on to the November 3 general election, with the winner assuming the mantle of a job that has plenty of tough decisions to make.

The takeaway

The 2026 insurance commissioner's race in California is shaping up to be a pivotal one, as the candidates grapple with the aftermath of devastating wildfires and the challenges facing the state's insurer of last resort, the FAIR Plan. Their proposals to reform the system and provide more affordable coverage options could have a significant impact on residents across the state.