California’s Top Insurance Regulator Accepted Political Contributions From Industry Executives

Soon after becoming California’s eighth insurance commissioner, Ricardo Lara organized a reelection committee that began accepting tens of thousands of dollars in political contributions from people with ties to companies he regulates, campaign disclosures show.

The donations, which are not illegal, contradict a pledge Lara made in the run-up to the 2018 election that he would reject contributions from the insurance industry.

Lara, a graduate of San Diego State University who served eight years in the California Legislature prior to his narrow win in November, reported accepting more than $50,000 in donations in recent months from insurance company executives and their apparent spouses, according to a San Diego Union-Tribune analysis of campaign funding data.