Candidates for California Insurance Commissioner Address Concerns
Stacy Colsgarden, running as a Republican for California Insurance Commissioner, has indicated plans to tackle insurance fraud and initiate a complete audit of the California Department of Insurance if she wins.
“I’m running because we can’t just stand by and watch the policies that shape our state. That’s why I’m here,” she mentioned in a recent speech at Tuolumne County City Hall.
Colsgarden is among 11 candidates vying to succeed California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, whose term is drawing to a close. She spoke at an event organized by Tuolumne County Supervisor Steve Griefer, held at the Tuolumne Resilience Center.
In her address, Colsgarden highlighted her extensive background in the insurance sector. After attending Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, she founded an insurance agency that later became nationally recognized before its sale in 2023.
She noted that California’s insurance dilemmas have been escalating over decades, pointing to regulations established by Proposition 103, a 1988 law aimed at enhancing oversight of the insurance landscape.
Colsgarden argued that while the intent was to safeguard consumers, the resulting regulatory framework has grown increasingly burdensome, leading to soaring premiums and a dwindling number of insurance providers in the state.
She asserted that the situation hit a critical point in 2023 when major players like State Farm halted new homeowners insurance policies in California. This not only created challenges for residents but also encouraged a surge in enrollments in the state’s FAIR Plan insurance program.
One of Colsgarden’s primary goals is to bring more insurance companies into California, hoping to foster competition and stabilize rates.
To support this initiative, she proposed establishing a new division within the Department of Insurance dedicated to attracting investments and facilitating the entry of additional insurers into the state market.
Colsgarden also committed to vigorously pursuing investigations into insurance fraud and reviewing departmental operations to enhance efficiency.
Her remarks come amid actions by Golden State regulators to potentially penalize State Farm for mismanaged claims following the 2025 wildfires, which claimed at least 31 lives.
She further discussed wildfire prevention efforts in the county, suggesting that communities investing in fuel reduction and fire safety should receive incentives in terms of insurance.
Praising local initiatives, she told attendees Tuolumne County would be among her first stops if elected. “You’ll be the first county I visit. I’ll work on bringing insurance companies here,” she stated.
During the forum, Colsgarden also endorsed financial assistance programs aimed at helping homeowners with fire protection enhancements, mentioning possibilities for tax rebates and additional funding for wildfire mitigation projects.
