Life Insurance Consumer Advocacy Center

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE               Contact: Doug Elmets

May 27, 2026                                (916) 329-9180

 

PLEASANT HILL, CA – The Life Insurance Consumer Advocacy Center (LICAC) has released questionnaire responses from candidates running for California Insurance Commissioner ahead of the June 2, 2026 primary election.

Candidates were invited to share their perspectives on a range of issues affecting California consumers of life insurance and annuity products, including consumer protections, industry oversight, regulatory transparency, and the future of the life insurance marketplace.

Based on the responses received, LICAC believes candidates Patrick Wolff and Ben Allen demonstrated particularly thoughtful and substantive engagement on many of the issues raised in the questionnaire. Patrick Wolff provided strong responses to LICAC’s questions on key issues showing a great understanding of the industry and the practices impacting consumers the most.  In particular, Mr. Wolff rightly condemned SB 263 (sponsored by Commissioner Lara in 2023) as “sham consumer protection” and pledged to draft a new bill that requires life insurance agents to act in the best interest of their customers and pledged to fight to get it passed by the legislature. While stopping short of such a pledge, Ben Allen displayed considerable interest and understanding of the issues, as well as an openness to working with consumer advocacy groups; coupled with his experience in, and relationships with, the legislature, these qualities make him also an excellent choice.

Of the nine candidates on the ballot this June, five candidates responded to LICAC’s request for comment. Visit the links below to view responses from each candidate.

• Ben Allen
  • https://lifeinsuranceconsumeradvocacycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Candidate-Responses-Ben-Allen.pdf
• Patrick Wolff
  • https://lifeinsuranceconsumeradvocacycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Candidate-Responses-Patrick-Wolff.pdf
• Sean Lee
  • https://lifeinsuranceconsumeradvocacycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Candidate-Responses-Sean-Lee.pdf
• Robert Howell
  • https://lifeinsuranceconsumeradvocacycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Candidate-Responses-Robert-Howell.pdf
• Lalo Vargas
  • https://lifeinsuranceconsumeradvocacycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Candidate-Responses-Lalo-Vargas.pdf

 

Why This Election Matters

With current Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara term-limited and unable to seek reelection, this open race presents a critical opportunity to shape the future of insurance regulation across the state. The California Insurance Commissioner plays a vital role in protecting consumers by overseeing the California Department of Insurance, regulating insurance companies, reviewing rate increases, and addressing consumer complaints.

In recent years, Californians have faced growing challenges in the insurance market, including rising premiums, policy cancellations, wildfire-related coverage issues, and broader market instability. Experts agree that the next commissioner will inherit a complex and evolving landscape in which affordability, climate risk, and consumer protections are at stake.

 

Centering Life Insurance in the Conversation

Although much of the public debate about this election has focused on homeowners’ insurance, especially after devastating wildfires and rising property insurance costs, it’s crucial not to overlook life insurance and annuities

“Life insurance is essential for the financial security of millions of Californians,” said Brian Brosnahan, President and Executive Director of Life LICAC. “In fact, California has approximately 10.3 million active individual life insurance policies. And millions more count on annuities, particularly for financial security in retirement.”

These policies are offered by a variety of providers, including large national insurance companies, online-only platforms, and independent agents and agencies. Consumer-focused regulation is essential to ensure fair pricing, transparency, and ethical practices to protect individuals and families.

As a consumer advocacy group, LICAC believes voters deserve clear, unbiased information about where candidates stand on the issues that matter most.

For more information about the Life Insurance Consumer Advocacy Center, visit https://www.lifeinsuranceconsumeradvocacycenter.org/

 

The Life Insurance Advocacy Center (LICAC) was founded to advocate for consumer protections in the life insurance industry. LICAC’s mission is to alert the public, including consumers and policymakers, about the potential risks of certain types of life insurance products, including annuities and investment-oriented life insurance policies; and to advocate for reasonable and essential consumer protections for these types of products.

 

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