Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Insurance Candidate Says He's a "Triple Threat" to President Trump
David Taub Website photo 2024
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 8 years ago on
March 14, 2018

Share

Los Angeles physician Dr. Asif Mahmood believes that “Medicare for all” is the best solution for providing Americans with a national healthcare system. He believes he can advance the concept on the state level as California’s insurance commissioner.
Mahmood, a Democrat, is seeking to succeed Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones, who terms out at the end of this year. Mahmood says he is running for the post because “we need a physician … a person who is actually seeing the problems of the patients and the families.”

Mahmood is Among Four Candidates in the Field

(Update: according to multiple sources, Mahmood’s opponents who qualified include state Sen. Ricardo Lara (D), former Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner (No Party Preference) and teacher Nathalie Hrizi (Peace and Freedom).)
In the June primary, Mahmood faces five opponents, including state Sen. Ricardo Lara (D), oncologist Paul Song (D), insurance agent Peter Kuo (R), former Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner (I) and teacher Nathalie Hrizi (I).
The elected commissioner oversees nearly 1,400 employees in the California Department of Insurance. CDI enforces the state’s insurance laws and has authority over how insurers and licensees conduct business in California.
In addition to policy issues, Mahmood’s campaign is focused on broader national issues. On his website’s “Issues” page, he writes, “As a Muslim immigrant from this great blue state of CA, I’m a triple threat to Donald Trump. I’m going to make him listen to the voices of all those people he is trying to silence.”

Take 5 Interview Topics

In an interview for GV Wire’s Take 5 video feature above, Mahmood discussed:

  • The insurance commissioner’s role
  • His motivation for seeking office
  • His approach to funding universal health coverage
  • Challenges he’s faced during his campaign
  • His views on President Trump’s leadership
David Taub,
Senior Reporter
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email

Search

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Send this to a friend