Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara. (Photo: Kevin Sanders for California Globe)
48 Global Trips for CA Insurance Commish Ricardo Lara as Insurance Carriers Were Leaving California
‘Safari, limo, 5-star resorts: CA insurance boss’ taxpayer-funded travel, security raise questions’
By Katy Grimes, October 2, 2025 5:03 pm
Where’s Ricardo? He’s not in his office, that’s for sure.
California’s elusive Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara has built up a lot of frequent flyer miles while California homeowners have been getting hit with massive spikes in insurance premiums, or getting notices that their insurance is cancelled altogether, leaving only double or triple rate increases in the government’s last-resort FAIR insurance plan.
Insurance expert Stacy Korsgaden reported at the Globe in May, “What was once a department designed to foster fairness and oversight has morphed into a political weapon: slow-moving, expensive, and utterly disconnected from reality. It no longer serves consumers. It punishes businesses, bullies carriers, and micromanages private industry into submission. The result is chaos, uncertainty, and a chilling message to every company watching from the sidelines: stay out of California.”
Back in March, the Globe reported on the elusive Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara’s globe-trotting, courtesy of the California taxpayers, while the state’s insurance companies left California. Lara traveled to grand places – 15 different countries paid for by California’s taxpayers, according to KGO/ABC7.
Maybe Lara thinks he’s the California Travel Insurance Commissioner.
Lara enjoys traveling on the taxpayer dime, according to KGO/ABC7, who questioned Lara’s travel record since 2019:
“7 On Your Side obtained and analyzed hundreds of public records that detail at least 46 cross-country and international trips all over the world — including at least 11 taxpayer-funded excursions to places like Bogota, Paris, and Toronto. But after more than a month of questioning his office, Lara’s staff has been unable to identify the business purpose for nearly all of them.”
Well, that excellent reporting, as well as the ongoing insurance crisis, hasn’t slowed Lara down one bit.
Wednesday, ABC7 News said they have been requesting information about 48 of Commissioner Lara’s trips for more than nine months.
He’s up to 48 global trips now. It’s travel and includes a safari, limousines, 5-star resorts, and security protection, ABC7 said. Lara’s travel included a “luxurious 10-day trip to Dubai,” and “an extravagant trip to Cape Town, South Africa for an international insurance conference. The conference was only two days — yet receipts show taxpayers paid for his entire two-and-a-half-week stay.”
Lara’s office “has only identified a direct business purpose for seven of those trips, three of which included vague descriptions. Due to incomplete records, it’s unclear how many of these trips were taxpayer funded. Receipts show expenses for at least 13 pricey trips were on taxpayers’ dime.”
One non-insurance trip included “a five-star hotel stay in New York City for PrideFest that cost taxpayers more than $11,600. The four-day trip listed no insurance-related meetings on his calendar, but a VIP rooftop event with ‘DJ Kitty Glitter’ made the cut.”
ABC7 News continues: “Lara’s five-day trip to Bogota, Colombia for an ‘LGBTI Political Leaders Conference’ cost taxpayers more than $24,000. That’s five times more than previously recorded. No insurance-related meetings were listed on his calendar, but receipts show he spent more than $7,000 on ‘taxi fares.’ It turns out a private security firm was hired to accompany him at the conference.”
Where else did Ricardo Lara travel? Santiago, Chile. Japan. Paris. Hawaii. The UK. Egypt. Singapore. Alaska. Hawaii. Toronto. The list is long.
ABC7 posted an interactive graphic to facilitate understanding the epic travels the California Travel Insurance Commissioner has taken – in the name of insurance commissioning.
In addition to Lara’s $260,000 contract with California Highway Patrol in 2019 to provide protection services, the security for just two of Lara’s 2019 trips cost taxpayers more than $16,400. Former Assemblyman Evan Low (D-Palo Alto) “– an openly gay politician who worked closely with Lara — says the security costs may be warranted due to rising threats targeting the LGBTQ community.”
My bullshit meter just reached peak BS. 
Perhaps Lara’s biggest problem is not just the travel and taxpayer expense, but that his staff can’t and/or won’t identify the business purpose for his trips.
That’s an abuse of office AND fraudulent use of taxpayer funds.
And, this was all taking place as major insurance companies were restricting policies, cancelling policies, or entirely pulling out of California, pushing the state to the brink of collapse.
“Recently, we learned that five carriers are reentering the California market,” insurance expert Stacy Korsgaden said this week. “While this is better news, the stark reality is, no matter how many companies return, we cannot thrive if the foundation of our state remains broken.”
Remember her name – Stacy Korsgaden is running for Insurance Commissioner.
ABC7’s article is deep and long. But read it in its entirety to understand the extent of Lara’s abuse of office, and fraudulent use of taxpayer funds.
Lara needs to be investigated, but can we trust California’s Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) or the California Attorney General to do it? I fear not. The Fair Political Practices Commission has been “assessing” a state complaint since March into California’s Insurance Commissioner. If ABC7 has the receipts, so does the FPPC.
A California native and Navy mom, Katy lives in Sacramento, CA.
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August 2, 2019 -
Thank you Katy Grimes for covering this outrage.
So-called “insurance commissioner” Ricardo Lara is one of the worst state officeholder clowns we’ve seen in California. He might be THE WORST. Why is he not in prison for his abuses that have resulted in CA residents left hanging out to dry during a most serious INSURANCE CRISIS-EMERGENCY? Which is the result of Ricardo Lara’s abuses and no-shows and globe-trotting playtime and general do-nothing-ness?
But who, exactly, in this ridiculous one-party Dem-Marxist state, is going to give this fun-time slacker Ricardo Lara the serious consequences he deserves for what he has done to Californians while in office? Useless and corrupt A.G. Rob Bonta? Encouraged by tyrannical laughingstock Gov Gavin Newsom? Right!
Since Guv Gav is driving the bus and his mini-me Bonta is riding along side, I fear no one will be transferred, demoted, fired or prosecuted. This is California after all! (See EDD covid fiasco)
Lara will probably make up some excuse/story about relevance to insurance needs, blah blah, and make a hollow pledge to pay back some of the so-called misallocated funds. Anyone else would be under the microscope for embezzlement and getting ready for an unpleasant stay in a less-than luxurious prison.
I predict he will end up with a soft landing as a consultant for some obscure “policy institute.”
is California devoid of residents who care about the damage that has been done to our great and successful state by corrupt politicians and liberal media?
I live in Los Angeles
Conservatives I know will complain for hours about everything they see that is going wrong but when I suggest to them that we put the effort into enlightening voters, exposing the corruption and failure in leadership, and STOP financially supporting the platforms
The corrupt liberal media, talk show hosts, TV stars, media stars who encourage people to vote for a corrupt politics, write letters to the corporations whose lies and fraud get corrupt politicians elected, STOP SUPPORTING THEM
They’re completely disinterested
It’s unbelievable
When did we become a state of passive victims?
Impotent and self-destructive
I live in a low income community being devastated by illegal immigration, every support you expect from government fails, while they pour money into cultivating vicious street gangs in Los Angeles, defund police, Cultivating twisted liberal agenda, including protections for violent criminals, drug dealers
I don’t understand
The passive acceptance of the destruction of our great state
one party rule creates these monsters. How many more are there in the bureaucracies of the massive CA government?
Just ashame the news media has zero interest in exposing this fraud. Last I checked, there was still an insurance crisis in CA. Just like Gavin, already looking to another job despite zero results.
If we can’t get redress from the state, can the U.S. Attorney General investigate?
To get the U.S. AG involved, maybe Lara’s actions can be shown to affect interstate commerce?
Worth looking at. Not a bad idea
I agree, corruption in California and voting fraud
I suspect our only recourse to a state government who are using our tax to establish a siuth of the border Narco state in California, will be federal assistance
Democrats screaming “Trump is destroying democracy” by sending military into California to protect us from criminal gangs and radical violence that is actually organized by CCP agitators
Like the recent radical protests and riots in Los Angeles
“Mostly peaceful“ terrorizing locals, burning cars, looting and destroying businesses, terrorizing people on our freeways and highways
A city held hostage
By corrupt Democrats and their violent minions
We should be able to drive our highways and freeways without being attacked by hamas, ms13, transtifa, antifa and la reconquista
I live in an area where mob violence and violent street gangsters takeovers of neighborhoods
Outnumber the police, many cities won’t even send the police in
Calif, America… You’re calling the police because a gang has blocked off a street in your neighborhood, their vandalizing vehicles, burglarizing homes, starting fires, doing exhibition driving that is a threat to everyone in the neighborhood, damage in cars parked along the streets
Knowing that this mob could break into your home and do whatever they want to you and your family
And the police don’t show up
IN AMERICA
AND THAT’S OK WITH DEMOCRATS
Our “elected” officials
The people chosen for us by liberal media platforms
Influenced by the CCP? ms13?
In Mexico, Yucatán, the military is used TO PROTECT CITIZENS
From gang violence
THAT IS WHAT OUR MILITARY IS FOR
For those conditions, when the strength and training, the arms of the police are not enough
In California, Democrats deliberately cultivate violent gangs, giving them free everything and protection from law enforcement
We need the US military, I have been hoping for this for over 20 years
Trump is the first president who has the courage to do this
For Americans
What does LGBT trips have to do with insurance in CA???? What a complete and utter jackass!!!
my question is
What are Californians going to do about it?
We have always had the potential to rip the rug out from under the corrupt liberalism that has been working against Americans in California for decades
THE EASIEST THING TO DO WOULD BE TO STOP FINANCIALLY SUPPORTING THE PROPAGANDA PLATFORMS THAT LIE ABOUT POLITICS AND ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO VOTE FOR CORRUPT POLITICIANS, AND PEOPLE WHO ARE ALIGNED WITH AMERICAN HATING FOREIGN INFLUENCE
And you know that’s the case in California
They are open about their alignment
Karen Bass, Gavin Newsom, CCP run fentanyl labs, CCP illegal bio labs in California, Financial support of criminal illegal street gangs and drug cartels
Gavin Newsom’s many trips to China
his preference for Mexico over Americans
Praising the president of Mexico who is overseeing one of the most vicious drug cartel run nations on the planet “spark of divinity” politics
The handwriting of the globalist War against America is everywhere in this
The easiest way for Californians to undermine the corrupt influence in California politics
WOULD BE TO STOP FINANCIALLY SUPPORTING THE INFLUENCERS
Stop financially supporting the libertainment industry and lib media, the corporations manipulating our politics
They don’t care what we think
They don’t care what happens to our communities
BUT THEY WILL CARE WHEN WE STOP MAKING THEM RICH FOR IT
Liberal states like California are like vichy france
FINANCIALLY SUPPORTING THE WAR AGAINST THEM
We need legislation that stops all votes by illegals
We need strict supervision of voting in California
seven recall efforts, All ignored by Sacramento
our vote on proposition 187, ignored by Sacramento
WE NEED MEDIA THAT SHOWS THE DAMAGE THAT HAS BEEN DONE BY CORRUPT AND DESTRUCTIVE LIBERAL AGENDAS
People who are aware of what is going on need to be more outspoken with those around them
I found it took five months
of artfully explaining media lies to 10 liberals I know
By nine months, seven of them became Trump supporters
Outraged at the damage that was being done to California, America manipulated by propaganda, Soviet Union and maoist style lies
I joked at the time that if every conservative in California
Put the effort into showing the truth to three friends
We could RESTORE CALIF SAFETY, SUCCESS, GREATNESS
This was before Covid
imagine the damage that Gavin Newsom did to California with his erratic and draconian and Covid restrictions, COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED
Not a single one of the conservatives I know who will complain for hours about everything that is going wrong in California
Would make the effort
We could save our state
One voter at a time
Considering that Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara is an out and loud member of the radical left alphabet rainbow mafia, he probably had one or male companions accompany him on those extravagant trips? With incomplete records, we’ll probably never know the extent to which California taxpayers (or insurance carriers) paid for Lara’s globe trotting or that of his companions?
California’s Democrat Attorney General Rob Bonta will never investigate a fellow Democrat like Lara when both have a complete lack of ethics. We also shouldn’t expect an investigation by five members of the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) when they’ve all been appointed by Democrats. The Chair and one other commissioner were appointed by Newsom, while the remaining three were appointed by the Secretary of State, the Controller, and the Attorney General all of whom are Democrats. One party rule in California has resulted in blatant corruption and criminality!
Ughh!
These demonrats outdo one another for the slimiest politician to exist.
There should be a Political Razzy Awards like they do for Hollywood but it would not be a parody.
A wall of shame should be erected at the State Capitol.
Seriously, they have LBTQ+++ political leaders conferences? We are a lost society!
California has fallen! It can be redeemed if all moderates and conservatives get out the vote!
Start by voting NO on Prop 50!
Do yourselves a favor and add up your car, home, business and health insurance expenses. That should motivate people to kick the jerks out of office!
I also beg to differ with Evan Low. Audrey Hale(trans) shot up a Christian School, Robert(Robin) Westman(trans) murdered children in a Catholic Church and Tyler Robinson (LGBt furry), killed Charlie Kirk. Those are just the recents at the top of my head. Where is the escalation?
So yeah, BS meter way up!
C’mon, Lara’s website proudly states that he’s the first openly gay California legislator and those pride festivals are important NETWORKING events!!!
Anyone wonder if Weiner was traveling with Lara???
California is utterly and completely lost…
“. . . the commissioner and his top aides abused their positions for personal gain and acted against consumers’ interests for many years.” This refers to Chuck Quackenbush who resigned . . . “In February 2002, an 18-month investigation conducted by federal, state and Sacramento County prosecutors ended with prosecutors declining to press charges against Quackenbush, as they felt the evidence was not strong enough.”
“After the 1994 Northridge earthquake, it was alleged that Quackenbush allowed insurance companies to compensate their clients much less than the actual damages. In exchange, the insurance companies set up special ‘educational funds.'” All for the purpose of advancing his political aspirations.
At least he had the decency to resign and the insurance companies remained to cover homeowners.
Ricardo Lara came to a town hall in Cameron Park hosted by then Assemblyman (now US Congressman) Kevin Kiley to address unaffordable insurance premiums and cancellations to a packed meeting hall in 2019. He gave a mild mannered introduction feigning concern and left before angry homeowners could address him.
Imagine how he skips around the world while devastated homeowners suffer losses from preventable fires all over the state raising rates for the rest of their communities.
Lara is a complacent, incompetent, inconsiderate, self indulging miscreant… much like the whole state of elected officials and DEI bureaucrats.
Is our governor Gavin Newsom aware of this? Who put this moron in office anyway? Why are we just now hearing about it? We need a independent audit of all elected officials!
I agree with all those who are commenting here. California is a demwit mess. We have to get people more involved in our political process to make a difference. Don’t complain, get involved now.
Lol, SavingCalifornia?
SIRI just told me that this guy was elected by the people of California. I now firmly believe that there is no hope. If the people can vote for someone like this, we will continue to get a long list of ineffectual and possibly corrupt leaders.
And with “dominion” in their back pocket in conjunction with voting SEASON, California voters are going to have an uphill battle against the party in power in California.
We need Harmeet Dhillon and her law firm to ram a forensic audit so far up this guy’s six that he DOESN’T want it…
People are losing their homes and are being put into poverty by high insurance costs and the commish says “watch me take luxury vacations”. Revolutions are started on less.
Body positive chin loss… must be from negotiating his way from one serving plate to the next, across the globe.
The San Diego City attorney received full pay while on an around the world cruise.
https://www.mercurynews.com/2025/04/14/bon-voyage-top-san-diego-lawyer-collecting-full-pay-during-4-month-global-cruise/
As with most politicians, they treat taxpayer dollars as their personal piggy bank. They’re scum.
Why do people vote these people into office? Because they haven’t been given the truth from the local news sources.
I suppose conducting recruitment interviews with privileged, like minded young men of natural abilities, for the simply fabulous carear. community opportunities awaiting them, in the Guber’s sanctuary.
SAVE the NAME: Stacy Korsgaden for CA Insurance Commissioner 2026.
She has been a Globe contributor on several occasions. Read her articles here at the Globe.
https://californiaglobe.com/author/stacy-korsgaden/
Lara is a part of the oligarchy he would claim to fight, and this is nothing new. It has a long history where communist functionaries live the haute life while the commoners stand in bread lines. And, who cares if Lara was the first rump ranger to do anything?