Watch or listen to California Politics Now Election Forum live at 6:00 PM PST tonight
- Apr 14
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 16
ONME News will be talking with four of the insurance commissioner candidates tonight; a problematic position currently held by Ricardo Lara, who remains in the hot seat
Tonight, the ONME News team, will hosts the California Politics Now Election Forums featuring insurance commissioner candidates, broadcasting live from its ONME studio in Downtown Fresno, Calif. This week's forum will feature four insurance commissioner candidates, Sen. Ben Allen, Jane Kim, Patrick Wolff and Merritt Farren. Keith Davis contacted the ONME News team with regrets he could not attend because he is currently out of the country.
The forum will be moderated by news producer host, Julia Ann Dudley Najieb, news publisher host, Brigette Jones and news producer Joquoya Murphy.
Post forum footage will broadcast on PEG access TV stations throughout California. (Candidates are urged to register online below to be included in the upcoming forums.)
Viewers and listeners can submit questions live by texting to 559-512-0766 to the news moderator, Murphy
Why this forum holds a deep significance in California
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 tonight will talk extensively about the combined fire damage in multiple communities throughout Southern California, relating it to the importance of tonight's forum discussion with the insurance commissioner candidates, who will be inheriting a bundle of mess with angry residents still looking for a resolve from reluctant insurance companies.
WHERE TO WATCH AND LISTEN TO THE ONME NETWORK FORUMS
Live Online
ONME Sounds web radio station
Live OTT Channels 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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Statewide candidates can find more information here.
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