By New York Post (U.S.) | Created at 2026-07-27 19:31:11 | Updated at 2026-07-27 21:21:38
2 hours ago
A Democratic candidate for California insurance commissioner endorsed by far-left U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders couldn’t seem to answer a fundamental question: whether she has the job experience.
Jane Kim, who leads the progressive California Working Families Party, is running for the state’s top insurance job this November amid an insurance crisis dramatically worsened by devastating wildfires.
Kim, in an interview published Sunday with KCRA, was asked what experience she has with insurance issues to be qualified for the office.
She instead launched into a long-winded response explaining what she believes the insurance commissioner should do, which is fighting for consumers.
“I spent the last 20 years in this realm, both as an organizer, as a civil rights attorney and also as an elected official; I served on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and school board,” Kim said. “I’ve really spent my whole life dedicated to championing consumers, and fighting for rules and, programs that really make this economy work for all of us.”
The reporter then pressed her to ask if she had experience fighting for consumers specifically in or with the insurance industry.
Kim then explained how insurance “is a really critical part of our economy” and repeated her belief the insurance commissioner should make life affordable.
The reporter then asks a third time if Kim has any insurance experience, but the former Bernie Sanders organizer still doesn’t say yes or no.
“I think that there is often sometimes there’s a misunderstanding about what this job actually is. This job is the consumer watchdog office. It is a leadership and policy role to help make the system work for everyday people. That is what I’ve dedicated my career to as a civil rights attorney, as a legislator,” she responded.
Kim, in the same interview, also seemed to flip her stance on the insurance issue playing out in the governor’s race.
Democrat Xavier Becerra, who is leading by a wide margin in recent polls, has promised to cap homeowners’ insurance premiums, which some experts said a governor cannot do.
“I will call in the insurance commissioner,” said Becerra, a former state attorney general. “I will say, ‘I am going to call for a freeze. If you don’t want to go there, then I will call for an investigation of the way you are conducting your business.’”
At a May forum, Kim didn’t say yes or no over whether that’s allowed, but she noted it would be an “interesting case study.” She was the only candidate during the primary to not say no.
However, she now told KCRA “he can’t freeze the rates,” Kim said. “That’s not an authority granted to the governor’s office.”
Kim is facing off against fellow Democrat state Sen. Ben Allen in November.
