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Ricardo Lara
2019 - Present
2027
6
Ricardo Lara (Democratic Party) is the California Commissioner of Insurance. He assumed office on January 7, 2019. His current term ends on January 4, 2027.
Lara (Democratic Party) ran for re-election for California Commissioner of Insurance. He won in the general election on November 8, 2022.
Lara is a former Democratic member of the California State Senate, representing District 33 from 2012 to 2019.
Lara previously served in the California State Assembly, representing District 50 from 2010 to 2012. Lara served as communications director for Assemblymember Kevin de León of the California Assembly and as chief of staff for Assemblymember Marco Antonio Firebaugh. He also served as district director for Assemblymember Fabian Nunez of the California State Assembly.
Biography
Ricardo Lara earned a bachelor's degree in journalism and Spanish from San Diego State University.[1]
Political career
California Insurance Commissioner (2019-present)
Lara was elected California commissioner of insurance on November 6, 2018. He assumed office on January 7, 2019.
Elections
2022
See also: California Insurance Commissioner election, 2022
General election
General election for California Commissioner of Insurance
Incumbent Ricardo Lara defeated Robert P. Howell in the general election for California Commissioner of Insurance on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Ricardo Lara (D) | 59.9 | 6,355,915 |
 | Robert P. Howell (R) | 40.1 | 4,249,391 | |
| Total votes: 10,605,306 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for California Commissioner of Insurance
The following candidates ran in the primary for California Commissioner of Insurance on June 7, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Ricardo Lara (D) | 35.9 | 2,414,744 |
| ✔ | | Robert P. Howell (R) | 18.1 | 1,216,322 |
 | Marc Levine (D) | 18.0 | 1,208,645 | |
 | Greg Conlon (R) | 16.2 | 1,086,683 | |
 | Eugene Allen (D) | 3.8 | 258,040 | |
 | Nathalie Hrizi (Peace and Freedom Party) | 2.8 | 190,414 | |
 | Veronika Fimbres (G) | 1.9 | 129,762 | |
| Jasper Jackson (D) | 1.9 | 124,955 | ||
| Robert Molnar (Independent) | 1.4 | 94,163 | ||
| Total votes: 6,723,728 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Campaign finance
2018
General election
General election for California Commissioner of Insurance
Ricardo Lara defeated Steve Poizner in the general election for California Commissioner of Insurance on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Ricardo Lara (D) | 52.9 | 6,186,039 |
 | Steve Poizner (Independent) | 47.1 | 5,515,293 | |
| Total votes: 11,701,332 (100.00% precincts reporting) | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for California Commissioner of Insurance
Steve Poizner and Ricardo Lara defeated Asif Mahmood and Nathalie Hrizi in the primary for California Commissioner of Insurance on June 5, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Steve Poizner (Independent) | 41.0 | 2,569,254 |
| ✔ | | Ricardo Lara (D) | 40.5 | 2,538,478 |
 | Asif Mahmood (D) | 13.5 | 846,023 | |
| Nathalie Hrizi (Peace and Freedom Party) | 5.0 | 316,149 | |
| Total votes: 6,269,904 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Peter Kuo (R)
2016
- See also: California State Senate elections, 2016
Elections for the California State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election was held on June 7, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was February 25, 2016, for candidates filing with signatures. The deadline for candidates using a filing fee to qualify was March 11, 2016.[2]
Incumbent Ricardo Lara defeated Honor Robson in the California State Senate District 33 general election.[3][4]
| California State Senate, District 33 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Ricardo Lara Incumbent |
78.65% | 177,971 | |
| Libertarian | Honor "Mimi" Robson | 21.35% | 48,316 | |
| Total Votes | 226,287 | |||
| Source: California Secretary of State | ||||
Incumbent Ricardo Lara and Honor Robson were unopposed in the California State Senate District 33 Blanket primary.[5][6]
| California State Senate, District 33 Blanket Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | Ricardo Lara Incumbent | |
| Libertarian | Honor "Mimi" Robson | |
2012
- See also: California State Senate elections, 2012
Lara won the 2012 election for California State Senate District 33. He was unopposed in the primary on June 5, 2012, and ran unopposed in the general election on November 6, 2012, as well.[7][8][9]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Ricardo Lara |
80.4% | 158,707 | |
| Peace and Freedom Party | Lee H. Chauser | 19.6% | 38,671 | |
| Total Votes | 197,378 | |||
2010
Lara defeated Carmen Avalos, Luis Marquez, and Art Olivier in the June 8 primary. He then defeated Republican Gladys O. Miller in the November 2 general election.[10][11]
| California State Assembly, District 50 General Election (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Ricardo Lara (D)
|
46,676 | |||
| Gladys O. Miller (R) | 13,452 | |||
| California House of Representatives, District 50 Democratic Primary (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Ricardo Lara (D)
|
6,223 | |||
| Carmen Avalos (D) | 4,512 | |||
| Luis Marquez (D) | 2,145 | |||
| Art Olivier (D) | 1,672 | |||
Campaign themes
2022
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Ricardo Lara did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Notable endorsements
This section displays endorsements this individual made in elections within Ballotpedia's coverage scope.
State legislative tenure
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of California scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2018
In 2018, the California State Legislature was in session from January 3, 2018 through August 31, 2018.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on labor issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills supported or opposed by the chamber.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on environmental issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on "policy that will support a healthy, just and resilient agriculture and food system."
- Legislators are scored on their votes on issues related to labor.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on environmental issues.
- Legislators are scored on "how they voted in accord with CMTA."
- Legislators are scored on their votes on issues related to the interests of consumers.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on the association's position legislation.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on issues pertaining to children.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on issues pertaining to children.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to the interests of seniors.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on behavioral health issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on LGBT issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on issues related to the interests of health care consumers.
- Legislators are scored on how they voted on taxpayer related issues.
- Legislators are scored on how they voted on bills related to the interests of California cities.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on the organization's priority legislation.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental policy.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to the interests of home care providers.
2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
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In 2017, the California State Legislature was in session from December 5, 2016 through September 15, 2017.
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2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
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In 2016, the California State Legislature was in session from January 4 through August 31. The formal session ended on August 31, but constitutionally the session adjourned sine die on November 30.
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2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
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In 2015, the California State Legislature was in session from December 1, 2014, through September 12, 2015.
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2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
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In 2014, the California State Legislature was in session from January 6 to August 30.
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2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
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In 2013, the California State Legislature was in session from December 3, 2012, to September 13, 2013
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2012
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2012, click [show]. |
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In 2012, the California State Legislature was in session from January 4 to August 31.
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Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Committee assignments
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| California committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Appropriations, Chair |
| • Banking and Financial Institutions |
| • Environmental Quality |
| • Governance and Finance |
| • Governmental Organization |
| • Legislative Audit |
| • Legislative Budget |
| • Rules |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Lara served on the following committees:
| California committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Appropriations, Chair |
| • Banking and Financial Institutions |
| • Energy, Utilities and Communications |
| • Governance and Finance |
| • Governmental Organization |
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Lara served on the following committees:
| California committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Appropriations |
| • Education |
| • Labor and Industrial Relations |
| • Natural Resources and Water |
| • Rules |
| • Transportation and Housing |
| • Legislative Audit, Vice chair |
| • Joint Rules |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Lara served on these committees:
| California committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Appropriations |
| • Banking and Finance |
| • Higher Education |
| • Legislative Audit, Chair |
| • Water, Parks and Wildlife |
See also
2022 Elections
External links
|
Candidate California Commissioner of Insurance |
Officeholder California Commissioner of Insurance |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ California Department of Insurance, "About the Commissioner," accessed July 9, 2025
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Key Dates and Deadlines," accessed April 18, 2017
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Certified List of Candidates for the November 8, 2016, General Election," accessed September 7, 2016
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "2016 General Election results," accessed December 23, 2016
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Certified List of Candidates for Voter-Nominated Offices," accessed April 4, 2016
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Statement of Vote," accessed August 22, 2016
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Official primary candidate list," accessed March 13, 2014
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Official 2012 Primary election results," accessed March 13, 2014
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Official 2012 General election results," accessed March 13, 2014
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Official 2010 Primary election results," accessed March 13, 2014
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Official 2010 General election results," accessed March 13, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
California Commissioner of Insurance 2019-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
California State Assembly District 50 2010-2012 |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
California State Senate District 33 -2018 |
Succeeded by - |
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 |
State of California Sacramento (capital) |
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