Merritt Farren, a former high-ranking legal executive at Disneyand Amazon, has launched a bid to become California’s next insurance commissioner. His platform focuses on stabilizing the state’s insurance crisis by enticing private insurers back to the state.

Farren contends the current system is fundamentally broken, particularly the state-mandated FAIR Plan. He cites critical flaws, such as a lack of transparency and chronic undercapitalization, which leave the plan unable to handle mass wildfire claims without additional funding from private insurers. The threat of such unpredictable financial demands has become a major disincentive for carriers to operate in the state, ultimately fueling a crisis of availability and affordability for homeowners.