New Poll: California Voters Concerned with Home Insurance – and *Strongly* Support Reform Measures
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 8, 2026
Contact: contact@insurancefairnessproject.com
New Poll: California Voters Concerned with Home Insurance – and Strongly Support Reform Measures
Voters Are Not Confident in the State Insurance System’s Ability to Handle Future Climate Disaster… and They Support Making Polluters Pay for the Costs of Extreme Weather
A new poll of California voters conducted by Public Policy Polling and commissioned by the Insurance Fairness Project reveals overwhelming concern about the rising cost of home insurance. Voters expressed deep skepticism about the state’s disaster preparedness, and strong support for reforms, including addressing the underlying drivers of climate change to prevent insurance costs from rising further.
“Californians are deeply worried about whether they can afford to protect their homes and whether the system will be there when they need it most,” said TJ Helmstetter, a spokesperson for the Insurance Fairness Project. “Voters want real accountability, lower costs, and a forward-looking strategy from the next Insurance Commissioner that takes climate risk seriously.”
“Climate and affordability are quickly becoming central to the California Insurance Commissioner’s race,” said Yvette Martinez, the Campaign Director of the Affordable Insurance Now Coalition. “Voters are looking for leadership that will put Californians first and deliver real solutions. Any candidate in this race is going to have to show how they’ll fix what’s broken and why it hasn’t been fixed already.”
“The verdict is in: Californians are calling on lawmakers and the insurance commissioner to do more to hold insurance companies accountable,” said Carmen Balber, Executive Director of Consumer Watchdog. “Guaranteed insurance coverage for fire-safe homes tops the list of wanted reforms at an unheard-of 94% support.”
Key Findings:
90% of voters are concerned with the cost of home insurance – with 62% of voters very concerned
79%lack confidence in the California insurance system’s ability to handle another weather disaster on the scale of the 2025 fires (36% not too confident, 43% not confident at all)
Voters largely disapproved of outgoing Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara’s handling of insurance rate hikes and claim denials following the L.A. fires– with 48% of voters rating his response as “poor”
63% of voters agree with expert warnings that without safeguards, instability in the insurance sector could lead to a 2008-style financial crisis, with over a third strongly agreeing.
The poll then asked voters whether they agreed with a series of reform proposals. A clear majority of voters didn’t merely agree with each proposal tested – they *strongly* agreed:
94% in support of REWARDS FOR HOME HARDENING: “If someone invests in making their home safer from extreme weather disasters, their insurance should cost less and remain available.” (68% strongly agree; 26% somewhat agree)
90% in support of MORE OVERSIGHT FOR NONRENEWALS:“Insurance companies should not be allowed to abruptly stop renewing policies or pull out of entire communities without strong state oversight and clear justification.” (77% strongly agree; 13% somewhat agree)
94% in support of MORE RATE HIKE TRANSPARENCY:“The next Insurance Commissioner should require insurance companies to publicly disclose the data and assumptions they use to justify rate increases.” (84% strongly agree; 10% somewhat agree)
72% in support of MAKING POLLUTERS PAY:“Households should not have to bear the full burden of the costs from fires, storms and floods driven by an overheating planet. Companies that produce planet warming pollution should have to pitch in.” (55% strongly agree; 17% somewhat agree)
70% in support of ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE: “While investing in wildfire safety and climate resilience is critical, California should also address the underlying drivers of climate change so insurance costs do not continue to rise year after year.” (50% strongly agree; 20% somewhat agree)
The polling was conducted March 26-27, 2026 by Public Policy Polling. Full results available here.
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The Insurance Fairness Project is an information hub dedicated to offering insights into the home insurance crisis, exploring its drivers and highlighting solutions alongside issue experts and community advocates.
