Watch or listen now to California Politics Now Election Forum featuring the insurance commissioner candidates running in the upcoming primary election
- Apr 16
- 3 min read
The ONME News team talks with key insurance commissioner candidates to see who is qualified to take over the hot seat
Tuesday night, the ONME News team, hosted and moderated a California Politics Now Election Forum featuring insurance commissioner candidates, Sen. Ben Allen, Jane Kim, Patrick Wolff and Merritt Farren.
The forum was moderated by news producer host, Julia Ann Dudley Najieb, news publisher host, Brigitte Jones and news producer Joquoya Murphy who first reviewed the news highlighting the current challenges with the position as homeowner-fire victims remain at odds with insurance companies.
Why this forum discussion overwhelmingly highlights the Southern California fire victims
According to a UCLA study, there were systemic inequalities and redlining practices which contributed to the January 2025 Eaton fire with vulnerability impacts; there was excessive fire damage in the historically Black community of Altadena, Calif. 61% of Black households in Altadena were located within the Eaton Fire perimeter, compared with 50% of non-Black households, according to a data brief from the UCLA Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies, the UCLA Center for Neighborhood Knowledge and the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute. Nearly half (48%) of Black households were destroyed or sustained major damage, compared with 37% experienced by non-Black households.
Many other diverse communities also destroyed by the same fire suffered the same dire consequences regarding insurance claim denies, insurance drops, or no communication at all. Many families are still suffering to this day.
According to Consumer Watchdog, California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara has faced intense criticism and calls for resignation from consumer advocacy groups and wildfire survivors regarding his management of the California FAIR Plan. Critics allege that his "sustainable insurance strategy" favors insurers, fails to stop sky-high premiums, and forces homeowners into the FAIR Plan—the state's insurer of last resort—while allowing it to limit coverage and increase rates.
The news hosts first extensively covered the fire damage in multiple communities throughout Southern California from the Eaton fire last January and the very slow progress to recovery of these damaged properties.
Thereafter, insurance commissioner candidates cited solutions they would instill once elected and upon inheriting a slew of angry residents still looking for a resolve with insurance companies.
WHERE TO WATCH AND LISTEN TO ENCORE BROADCASTS
Also watch on your local PEG access TV channel.
Live Online @6:00 PM Monday daily
ONME Sounds web radio station
Live on CTV Channels @6:00 PM via The AMPTV Network
Audience members can also watch and share the posted videos and audios:
Online on-demand starting
ONME TV (video)
ONME Podcast Network (audio)
Shareable Third-Party Audio Podcast
Upcoming Election Forum Candidate Sing-Up Below
Each online discussion allows candidates to speak to constituents across California for up to 60 minutes for 3-5 candidates per session and 90 minutes for 5-8 candidates per session. ONME News has created forums for the following state elected positions: governor, lieutenant governor, treasurer, insurance commissioners, state controller, superintendent of public instruction, secretary of state, and board of equalization.
Candidates can register and RSVP below to be included in the forum. (Candidates will be present online only.)
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