He accused California insurers of overseeing a fiery war zone. Now, he might regulate them.

This is the second story in an occasional series on the California insurance commissioner’s race. You can read the first story here.

A state senator who has blasted insurance companies for mistreating his Los Angeles constituents after catastrophic wildfires last year is a leading candidate to regulate the industry.

Now, he wants to work with insurers to protect Californians from climate-related disasters.

State Sen. Ben Allen (D), known in the Capitol for spearheading major environmental legislation, advanced this month from a primary election for state insurance commissioner. He will face former San Francisco official Jane Kim (D), a progressive endorsed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), this November.