Dave Jones reelected California insurance commissioner, AP says

California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones has won a second term, AP reports. The Sacramento Democrat ran well ahead of Republican challenger Ted Gaines, a state senator from Rocklin.

The commissioner is the state’s top elected consumer regulator, overseeing the $123-billion-a-year insurance industry that includes automobile, homeowner and dozens of other types of coverage.

Jones, 52, a former state assemblyman, is an activist and claims his decisions on company rate proposals have saved insureds $1.67 billion in premium hikes since 2011.

He supported Proposition 45, an initiative on the same ballot as his reelection, that aimed to expand the commisser’s rate-setting authority to health insurance for individuals and small businesses.

Gaines, 56, owns a family insurance brokerage whose management, he says, prepared him ensure the health of the state’s insurance market.

He opposed Proposition 45 as over-regulation. Gaines’ campaign focused on promises to reduce government red tape and promote competition among insurance companies.

Twitter: @MarcLifsher