The impact: Soaring home insurance premiums are prompting voters to take interest in the formerly obscure position of insurance commissioner—candidates for it are on the ballot in four states this November, per the New York Times.
- A study based on data from CoreLogic found the average homeowner premium jumped 33% between 2020 and 2023—more in Florida, the Gulf Coast, and California, where severe storms and wildfire have left insurers paying out more than they take in. Some insurers have even left these states.
- Frustrated homeowners facing fewer and more expensive options for coverage are forcing candidates to address insurance shifts and climate change in their platforms.
The race is on: Eleven states elect their insurance commissions, and the rest appoint them.