High Cost Of Home Insurance May Drive Voter Turnout For Midterms

A majority of Americans say rising home insurance costs would make them more likely to vote in the midterm elections.

According to a new study from Insurify, 58% of respondents say higher insurance costs are motivating them politically. The study revealed that home insurance premiums have increased by 46% since 2021 – including a 12% rise in 2025 — leaving many homeowners struggling financially.

The report surveyed 1,500 Americans and created insurance scores to rank states by how likely the 2026 midterm elections are to influence their coverage and rates.

“Insurance affordability has become more of a consumer concern. Premiums are up and it’s becoming part of consumers’ everyday budgets,” said Julia Taliesin, an economic analyst and licensed insurance agent with Insurify.

Inflation and climate risk have made home insurance a key cost consideration, sometimes determining whether someone can afford a home in the area where they want to buy.

During a recent conference call hosted by the Insurance Fairness Project and Climate Power, participants discussed poll findings that 75% of Americans are concerned about home insurance costs rising in the next three years.

“We found that one in three consumers worry about their coverage being dropped and more than half are worried that cost will impact their ability to keep, sell, buy or upgrade a home,” said Tyler Kruse, a senior campaigner for the Insurance Fairness Project.

'An extra $21 billion'

Michael DeLong, a research and advocacy associate with the Consumer Federation of America, shared data that “the average home insurance has increased by $648, or 24%, from 2021 to 2024. That’s an extra $21 billion in less than three years.”

While more than six in 10 consumers (61%) in the Insurify study said they believe elections affect their insurance costs, only 26% say it would dictate their candidate choice.

Part of this disconnect may be that many people don’t understand what insurance commissioners do and how they can impact rates and shape the insurance landscape. More than a quarter (26%) of Americans who plan to vote in the midterm elections aren’t sure who regulates insurance in their state. Just 18% think it’s an insurance commissioner or regulator.

“Candidates and elected leaders need to do a better job at connecting the dots on how insurance rates can be influenced,” Taliesin said.

“Elected officials should do more to help reduce insurance costs. Consumers want transparency, accountability and post-disaster recovery,” Kruse noted.

In 11 states, voters elect an insurance commissioner; in 39, governors appoint one. This year, four states -- Oklahoma, California, Georgia, and Kansas -- have insurance commissioner seats on the Nov. 3 ballot. All of these states faced home insurance rate increases last year: 24% in Oklahoma, 5% in California, 9% in Georgia, and 15% in Kansas, according to Insurify data.

And 36 states (including Arizona, Iowa, Michigan, Nevada, and Wisconsin) with appointed commissioners are holding gubernatorial elections.

Managing rates and regulating conduct

Insurance commissioners manage rate-change requests from insurers and the overall stability of the state’s insurance market. How they do that varies from state to state.

The general mandate of the insurance commissioner’s office is to protect consumers and the state economy by monitoring insurers’ financial health, such as their ability to pay claims, and ensuring that rates and policies comply with state law. Though an insurance commissioner’s duties can vary from state to state, their typical role is to review rate filings and regulate market conduct.

“While many consumers understand that voting matters, it can be confusing because the regulations differ by state and most people don’t want to think about insurance,” Taliesin said. “They’re feeling it in their wallets but aren’t sure how they can have a say.”

“People don’t know about the role of an insurance commissioner. We need more transparency on what insurance commissioners do and how they can impact rates.” DeLong said.

The average annual cost of home insurance rose 12% in 2025 to $2,948. Insurify projects the average will climb to $3,057 by the end of 2026, a further 4% increase.

According to Taliesin, the top five states with the largest increase in home insurance rates are Minnesota, Colorado, Iowa, Illinois and Oklahoma.

“These increases were largely driven by storms, including high winds and wildfires,” she said.

Florida is still the most expensive state for home insurance. The typical annual premium ($8,292) is more than double the national average, following an 18% spike in 2025.

Insurify projects California premiums will increase 16% by the end of the year, the largest anticipated hike for any state. To recover wildfire losses, insurers may ask for higher rate increases, but California’s strict regulatory system could constrain those increases.

Affordability gap widens

The affordability gap in premiums between high- and low-cost states widened in 2025. On average, premiums rose nearly three times faster in the 25 most expensive states for home insurance than in the 25 cheapest states (14% vs. 5%).

Homeowners concerned about rising home insurance premiums, or who are struggling to find coverage, have several strategies to lower their home insurance premiums, according to Taliesin.

“The first is to shop around to look for the best deal for the coverage you need,” she said. She recommends doing this at least annually or when you make improvements (such as a new roof) to your home.

Another strategy she noted is to look for all the potential discounts so you’re not “leaving money on the table.” These discounts can include bundling with other insurance, senior discounts, green or energy-efficient improvements, and having a security system.

“Also consider raising your deductible. This will lower your monthly premiums but you need to make sure you have the money if you need to file a claim,” she said. ”Try to stay informed on state-level races and how they impact insurance affordability.”

Taliesin said financial professionals can also help demystify what goes into rate setting and help consumers understand the risk and why costs might go up.

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