Mercury General spent $16 million to support Proposition 17 in California, which would have extended longevity discounts to drivers who switch insurers, but it lost by 4% of the vote. Despite outspending his opponent over 3 to 1, insurance commissioner candidate Steve Poizner also lost his primary race for governor. While little-known Brian FitzGerald, an attorney who spent little on his campaign, currently holds a narrow lead over Assemblyman Mike Villines in another primary race. Mercury may have been better off giving $250 rebates to 64,000 new customers rather than spending on the failed ballot measure.