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The state Capitol in Sacramento on Nov. 17, 2022. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters
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Ricardo Lara

Democrat, Insurance Commissioner
Time in office:
  • Assembly: 2010-2012
  • Senate: 2012-2018
  • Insurance Commissioner: 2019-present

News coverage of Ricardo Lara

Bio

Ricardo Lara, 51, is a former assemblymember and California senator. When elected insurance commissioner in 2018, he was the first openly gay person elected to statewide office in California’s history. Before he was elected, Lara was a staffer for three Assemblymembers: Marco Antonio Firebaugh, Fabian Nunez and Kevin de Leon. He graduated from San Diego State University. Raised in East Los Angeles by immigrant parents, Lara has degrees in journalism and Spanish from San Diego State University.

Job Description

The insurance commissioner oversees the California Department of Insurance, which regulates the nation’s largest insurance market. With a budget of about $360 million and 1,400 employees, the department oversees insurer solvency, approves rates, licenses agents and brokers and investigates fraud and consumer complaints.

Financials

This feature tracks three sources of money intended to help a candidate win election: 1-Money given directly to a candidate’s committee, 2-Money given to an Independent Expenditure Committee, 3-Money given to a political party.

Election

This display shows money given directly to the incumbent’s campaign committee (NOTE: The industry categories for donors come from Open Secrets, a nonpartisan research organization for campaign finance. Some contributions are “uncoded,” meaning they have not been assigned to an industry sector. As a result, the total for each sector is also an estimate).

Agriculture

$71.1K

Candidate Contributions

$150.7K

Communications & Electronics

$189.5K

Construction

$92.1K

Energy & Natural Resources

$233.0K

Finance, Insurance & Real Estate

$356.2K

General Business

$321.0K

Government Agencies/Education/Other

$334.6K

Health

$278.1K

Ideology/Single Issue

$146.1K

Labor

$2.0M

Lawyers & Lobbyists

$266.8K

Party

$56.5K

Transportation

$93.8K

Uncoded

$1.1M

Candidate Donations

Individuals, corporations, organizations and committees are limited to a maximum donation to candidates of $5,500 for the primary and for the general elections.

Total
$5.7M

Party Committees

This is independent expenditure money spent by political parties for advertising, grassroots mobilization or other activities targeting this candidate. Separately, political parties can give money directly to a candidate's campaign committee. Digital Democracy tallies that money under "candidate donations".

Total
$955.0

Independent Expenditures

Money from Independent Expenditure Committees (IEC) for advertising or grassroots activity targeting a candidates run for office is unlimited, but it cannot be spent in coordination with the candidate or the candidate's campaign.

Total
$1.1K

Grand Total for Elections

$5.7M

This is a total of the money targeting this official's campaign(s) including direct donations to the candidate, money spent by Independent Expenditure Committees and money from political parties.

Influence

There are three categories of donations after they are elected that encourage a working relationship between the donor and the official. The three categories are: 1-Gifts, 2-Travel, 3-Behests.

Giver
Value
Date
Description
Galvanize Climate Solutions LLC$89.33Dec 5, 2023COP28 Breakfast Event
California Latino Legislative Caucus Foundation$73.03Jan 19, 2023Black talavera vase + flowers
National Association of Insurance Commissioners$45.25Feb 10, 2023Padfolio and pen

Gifts

Officials are not allowed to accept gifts of more than $10 per month from registered lobbyists. Gifts from any other single source are limited to $590 in a calendar year.

Interested in Ricardo Lara's history as a former legislator?

Review Lara's history as a legislator, including bill's authored, candidate donations and more.

Learn More

Policy

Bill Positions

This officeholder or this office has taken positions on the following bills during the current session.

Bill
Date
Last Recorded Position
AB 1Jun 23, 2025Support
AB 1487Sep 8, 2025Support
AB 1531Sep 6, 2025Support
AB 2011Mar 20, 2026Support
AB 224Aug 29, 2025Support
AB 226Sep 13, 2025Support
AB 232May 2, 2025Support
AB 234Jun 26, 2025Support
AB 290Sep 12, 2025Support
AB 432Sep 9, 2025Support
AB 487Aug 27, 2025Support
AB 554Sep 8, 2025Support
AB 594Aug 13, 2025Support
AB 597Jul 8, 2025Support
AB 75Jul 7, 2025Support
AB 843Oct 23, 2025Support
AB 888Aug 29, 2025Support
SB 20Sep 8, 2025Support
SB 354Jun 2, 2025Support
SB 40Sep 3, 2025Support
SB 418Oct 15, 2025Support
SB 429Sep 13, 2025Support
SB 495Sep 13, 2025Support
SB 497Sep 9, 2025Support
SB 525Sep 2, 2025Support
SB 547Sep 13, 2025Support
SB 616Oct 17, 2025Support
SB 62Sep 3, 2025Support
SB 635Sep 12, 2025Support
SB 778Sep 8, 2025Support
SB 81Sep 2, 2025Support

Election Results

Previous Election (2022):

Ricardo Lara
59.9%
WON
Robert Howell
40.1%