Ricardo Lara is California's eighth Insurance Commissioner since voters created the elected position in 1988. Lara previously served in the California Legislature, representing Assembly District 50 from 2010 to 2012 and Senate District 33 from 2012 to 2018.

As Senator, Lara expanded protections for disaster survivors from losing their homes to insurance cancellation and nonrenewal. He wrote the nation's first climate insurance law, SB 30, to engage the insurance industry in the fight against climate-linked environmental disasters like wildfires and sea level rise. Lara is one of California's most effective environmental champions, working to improve health conditions and rein in air pollution.

Lara received the United Nations 2017 Climate and Clean Air Award with former Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. and the California Air Resources Board for his work to reduce super pollutants.

Lara authored the Health4All Kids Act, which now covers 250,000 California children with full-scope health care regardless of their immigration status. He also authored laws that help prevent prescription drug abuse and crack down on patient brokering and fraud involving Californians recovering from substance abuse disorders.

Raised in East Los Angeles by immigrant parents, Lara made history in 2018 by becoming the first openly gay person elected to statewide office in California's history.

Lara earned a bachelor's degree in Journalism and Spanish with a minor in Chicano Studies from San Diego State University.