Patrick Wolff is a Harvard-educated investor and former U.S. chess champion dedicated to reforming California's insurance landscape.

Wolff, running for California Insurance Commissioner as a Democrat, emphasizes transparency and accountability in insurance markets. He aims to reform the state's property/casualty insurance crisis by increasing competition and consumer protections while pledging not to accept donations from insurance or fossil fuel companies. His extensive experience includes building a home and auto insurance brokerage and analyzing insurance markets as an investor.

Patrick Wolff is a Harvard-educated investor and former U.S. chess champion dedicated to reforming California's insurance landscape. Wolff, running for California Insurance Commissioner as a Democrat, emphasizes transparency and accountability in insurance markets. He aims to reform the state's property/casualty insurance crisis by increasing competition and consumer protections while pledging not to accept donations from insurance or fossil fuel companies. His extensive experience includes building a home and auto insurance brokerage and analyzing insurance markets as an investor.

Who's recommending WolffPatrick Wolff has endorsements from political organizations, newspaper editorial boards, and civic groups. His campaign is primarily self-funded, with a significant contribution from Wolff himself and support from individual donors, while he has pledged not to accept contributions from insurance or fossil fuel companies.

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San Francisco Chronicle Editorial Board

California needs someone to do the hard work of competently regulating the insurance system before we can fully solve its shortcomings. Patrick Wolff is up for it.

Daniel Schwarcz

Patrick Wolff understands what has gone wrong in California's homeowners insurance market and, more importantly, how to fix it. For too long, insurance regulation in this state has relied on outdated rate controls that suppress competition without delivering real consumer protection. Patrick recognizes that smart, modern regulation should promote genuine competition among insurers while insisting on prompt, fair, and transparent claims handling. It is refreshing to see a candidate for Insurance Commissioner who understands that well-designed rules can harness competitive markets to benefit consumers, while both overregulation and underregulation ultimately harm them. That is why I am proud to endorse Patrick Wolff for California Insurance Commissioner.

Anand Viswanathan

He was very friendly and I enjoyed his company. So, when I got a chance to play a big match in Spain in 1992, I asked him if he would help prepare me for that match. Happily, he accepted and we did a lot of work together for the next couple of years as I competed in the world chess championship cycle. He helped me develop a lot of structure and organization in my chess openings as well as give me useful psychological insights. In the meantime, he himself had become US champion and I was happy that we finished that cycle together. I could always depend on Patrick.

Tom Gober

I have spent 41 years protecting insurance policyholders and have watched the industry shift from a traditionally safe model to a more profit-driven one, with greater risks and less transparency. Both insurance executives and state regulators share responsibility, though some states do far more to protect consumers than others. I offer this unsolicited support for Patrick Wolff as California's next Insurance Commissioner because he is seeking this role to serve, not as a stepping stone or for industry gain. In my conversations with him, he has shown genuine concern, answered tough questions without hesitation, and even sought guidance, something I respect as a certified fraud examiner and consumer advocate. This role requires diligence, not a political revolving door, and I trust Patrick Wolff will put policyholders first.

Cyn Wang

As a California insurance broker, I've watched a lot of candidates talk about fixing our insurance market. Patrick is the only one who actually understands it. He has hands-on insurance experience, understands market dynamics, and has the discipline to implement real solutions. If we want meaningful insurance reform in California, Patrick is the only serious choice for Insurance Commissioner.

Thomas Witt

Patrick Wolff is one of the smartest, most analytical people I know. He understands insurance from real-world experience, works harder than anyone else, and stays positive under pressure. Patrick knows how markets actually function and how to deliver results. That's exactly the kind of leadership California needs in its next Insurance Commissioner.

Rex Ridgeway

When things get tough, Patrick just works harder. He's unstoppable. He brings real insurance experience, understands how a functioning marketplace actually works, and stays relentlessly focused on results. At the same time, he's respectful, collaborative, and steady under pressure.

Bracken White

Patrick is exceptionally analytical. If there's a technical problem to solve, he's the person who will solve it and if he can't, no one can. He's smarter than most people I've worked with, stays positive under pressure, and actually executes on big ideas.

LS

Laura Swaminathan

He is obviously the most qualified and has very clear specific plans to fix the insurance regulatory framework in California. the GrowSF endorsement persuaded me in this case.

SY

SF YIMBY

California's insurance industry has been decimated by insurance commissions that micromanage insurers' risk models, and respond to political pressure to artificially reduce insurance rates in high risk areas and for high risk structures. Patrick has the experience and temperament to effectively return real competition to the insurance markets. He will ensure that insurers are accurately able to price risk. He will also fight insurers who lobby to keep their payout data secret to ensure that consumers have the data they need to shop for the best insurance. He will work with insurers and the legislature to create programs that help homeowners and cities reduce fire risk. Patrick is a genuine technocrat, insurance professional and former hedge fund manager. For too long, the Insurance Commissioner has been a position held by a politician without any interest or expertise in insurance or economics who is merely seeking a statewide office and a paycheck. We have to do something different.

See all 29 endorsements