Regional Directors Statewide Candidate Forum
Livestreamed Saturday, January 31, 2026
Chapters
0:00:00 – Welcome
0:01:20 – Candidates for Insurance Commissioner
0:47:48 – Candidate for Controller (Incumbent)
0:58:02 – Candidates for Board of Equalization
2:07:10 – Candidates for Treasurer
2:42:10 – Close
Questions
For Insurance Commissioner Candidates:
1) California’s insurance crisis has been described as primarily a regulatory failure, a climate failure, and an industry accountability failure. Which do you believe is the most accurate, and how do you plan to address it?
2) There have been a few scandals with previous holders of this office. How do you plan to work with the companies you would be responsible for regulating?
3) How would you work with the legislature to ensure customers’ policies are paid out in a timely manner and to protect consumers from fraud in the insurance industry?
4) Over the past several years, insurance rates have spiked dramatically with some areas becoming entirely unaffordable even under the FAIR plan, and some insurance companies have withdrawn from the California marketplace entirely. What specific actions would you take in your first year to stabilize the market and how will we know that you have been successful?
For Controller:
1) The State Controller is California’s chief fiscal watchdog. In an era of complex contracting, federal funding flows, and increasing risks of waste and fraud, what specific steps would you take to strengthen audits, oversight, and transparency to ensure taxpayer dollars are protected and used as intended?
2) The Controller’s Office is responsible for paying hundreds of thousands of state workers and managing critical financial systems. What is your plan to modernize operations, prevent payroll or payment failures, and ensure the office is resilient, accurate, and responsive—especially during budget stress or emergencies?
For BOE Candidates:
1) California’s tax policies have been described as a failure, primarily as a corporate loophole failure, an enforcement failure, and a failure of political will. Do you agree? And what would you fix first on the Board of Equalization?
2) Property tax assessments—especially under Proposition 13 and its related reforms—remain confusing and controversial for many Californians. How should the BOE balance taxpayer protections and the need for accurate, up-to-date assessments, and what role should the board play in ensuring consistency across counties.
3) The Board of Equalization has faced criticism in the past over governance, transparency, and internal accountability. How would you strengthen oversight of the BOE and the agencies it works with to restore and maintain public trust, and what concrete reforms would you support or oppose?
For Treasurer Candidates:
1) California relies heavily on bond financing for schools, housing, climate resilience, and infrastructure. How would you decide what projects deserve new debt — and what guardrails would you use to avoid saddling future generations with unsustainable obligations in?
2) The Treasurer plays a key role in setting investment priorities that reflect California’s values. How would you approach environmental, social, and governance (or ESG) considerations, and where do you draw the line between fiduciary responsibility and policy-driven investing?
3) Many Californians are unaware of what the State Treasurer actually does or how decisions affect them. What concrete steps would you take to increase transparency, improve public understanding, and ensure accountability in the Treasurer’s office?
4) California’s pension obligations and long-term liabilities continue to shape the state’s fiscal future. What specific strategies would you pursue to strengthen pension sustainability while protecting taxpayers and public employees?
Other Forums
IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: These candidate forums are not sponsored by, endorsed by, affiliated with, authorized by, or coordinated with the California Democratic Party (CADEM/CDP), its Executive Board, its staff, or any of its official bodies. Nothing in these forums or any related materials should be interpreted as implying the California Democratic Party endorsement, sponsorship, approval, or involvement of any kind. The California Democratic Party is neither liable nor responsible for any information shared at these forums or the planning thereof.
These forums are an independent project organized by a coalition of individuals who hold the title of Regional Director but are acting solely in their individual capacities. Any use of the term “Regional Director” is for identification purposes only and does not imply that the California Democratic Party is involved in, connected to, associated with, or supportive of these events.
These forums are being organized in response to numerous requests from delegates and candidates seeking additional opportunities for candidates to inform the delegates on their platforms, policies, and positions in advance of the 2026 Endorsing Convention.