With the first anniversary of the devastating Southern California wildfires approaching, CalMatters asked candidates for the 2026 state Insurance Commissioner race to share thoughts on what the state can do to help victims and stabilize insurers. This is the second response. Read the other candidate response here.
The messages started flowing in: A fast-moving fire was tearing through the Palisades. Families I grew up with and had represented in the State Senate for more than a decade were told to evacuate with just minutes’ notice. We had just started the new legislative session up in Sacramento, but I knew I needed to get back home.
As I headed into town, the sky was lit up by the fire. The blaze was bright, red and hot. The smoke plume stretched for miles. We evacuated my mom, packed a go bag, and figured out contingency plans…