State Sen. Ben Allen is running for California insurance commissioner. Allen, a Democrat, faces Democrat Jane Kim in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.
Allen's platform centers on the commissioner's authority over rate applications, claim denials and insurer compliance. For Beverly Hills, Bel Air and Holmby Hills homeowners weighing wildfire coverage and insurance costs, the race carries direct consequences.
Allen has represented California Senate District 24 since 2014, according to his senate biography. The district covers Westside, Hollywood, South Bay and Santa Monica Mountains communities in Los Angeles County. He is in his third Senate term.
Candidate information
- Party: Democratic
- Office sought: California insurance commissioner
- Education: Bachelor's degree in history, Harvard University (2000); master's degree in Latin American studies, University of Cambridge (2001); law degree, University of California, Berkeley (2008)
- Current office: State senator, California Senate District 24 (first elected 2014)
- Early background: Grew up in Senate District 24 and graduated from Santa Monica High School in 1996, according to his senate biography
Experience and public service
Allen served as a board member of the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District. He also served as a voting student member of the University of California Board of Regents, according to his senate biography.
His legal career includes work as a litigator at Bryan Cave LLP, of counsel at Richardson and Patel LLP, and adjunct faculty at UCLA Law School. He served as a judicial clerk at the United Nations' International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda.
Before entering elected office, Allen worked as communications director for U.S. Rep. Jose Serrano of New York and as staff on the Latin American team at the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs. He is an Aspen Institute-Rodel Fellow and a Truman National Security Project Fellow.
On the issues
The following positions are drawn from Allen's responses to a BallotReady questionnaire and his campaign website. All statements reflect the candidate's own claims.
Wildfire insurance and rate reform
Allen said he would implement reforms allowing the use of wildfire catastrophe modeling and the inclusion of reinsurance costs in rate applications. He said this would align California with national standards and ensure rates reflect true climate risk.
He said he would expand programs such as Safer from Wildfires, the California Safe Homes grant program and vegetation management programs to help residents lower risk and premiums. Allen said he would also work with the Legislature, the governor and local governments on neighborhood-scale programs to reduce disaster risk and bring down insurance rates.
Post-disaster rebuilding
Allen said he supports resilient redevelopment in post-disaster areas like the Palisades and Altadena as models for safer, more fire-resilient and more insurable communities.
Climate risk and transparency
Allen said he would restore past transparency programs that revealed insurers' fossil fuel investments and require stress testing to prevent insurers from underwriting risky fossil projects. He said he supports efforts to ensure fossil fuel companies bear financial responsibility for climate damages driving up insurance costs.
Consumer protection and government reform
Allen said he would require insurers to clearly explain claim denials and maintain real-time reporting of delays and outstanding claims after disasters. He said he would invest in staffing and digital infrastructure at the Department of Insurance to handle rate requests, consumer complaints and disaster claims more efficiently.
He also said he would simplify insurance materials and require insurers to explain available discounts under hardening programs such as Safer from Wildfires.
Endorsements
Allen has received endorsements from the California Democratic Party, the California Labor Federation, the California Teachers' Association, the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor and the Los Angeles County Democrats, according to BallotReady. He has also been endorsed by the Pacific Palisades Democratic Club, the Heart of LA Democratic Club, the Los Angeles Stonewall Democrats, the Communication Workers of America and the East Bay Stonewall Democrats.
The Platinum Tribune candidate questionnaire was sent to Ben Allen's campaign. No response was received as of Oct. 9, 2026. The policy positions above are drawn from his public campaign website and public records.
