Sen. Ben Allen seeks California insurance commissioner post

State Sen. Ben Allen, a Democrat, is running for California insurance commissioner in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.

He faces fellow Democrat Jane Kim in the statewide race, according to the California Secretary of State’s voter guide. Voters in California will help choose the official who heads the Department of Insurance, regulates insurers and handles consumer complaints.

The Burlingame-Hillsborough Times candidate questionnaire was sent to Ben Allen’s campaign. No response was received as of Oct. 22, 2026. The policy positions below are drawn from his public campaign website and public records.

Allen has served in the state Senate since 2014 and is in his third term. He represents District 24 in Los Angeles County, according to his official biography.

Candidate information

Party: Democratic
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
Background: Grew up in the area he now represents and graduated from Santa Monica High School in 1996. He speaks Spanish.

His education dates are listed in his Ballotpedia profile, while his Senate biography describes his upbringing and language skills.

Experience and public service

Before joining the Senate, Allen served on the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District’s school board, including as president, and taught at UCLA School of Law.

His legal experience includes work at Bryan Cave, Richardson & Patel and the nonprofit Spark Program, according to his official biography.

While attending law school, he served as the voting student member of the University of California Board of Regents and as a summer judicial clerk at the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda.

He previously worked on Latin American issues at the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs and as communications director for then-Rep. Jose Serrano of New York.

On the issues

Allen’s campaign platform emphasizes stabilizing the private insurance market, reducing disaster risk and improving the handling of insurance claims.

“My plan will restore a competitive insurance market, ensure Californians are treated fairly after disasters, and build resilient communities that can withstand the climate challenges ahead,” he says on his campaign website.

Insurance availability and rates: Allen supports implementing wildfire catastrophe modeling and reinsurance provisions in rate reviews. Reinsurance is coverage insurers purchase to help manage their own losses. He also proposes faster departmental decisions on rate applications, according to his market policy page.

Wildfire prevention: He proposes expanding programs that help homeowners reduce fire risk, alongside coordinated neighborhood efforts.

“I will work with the Legislature, the Governor, and local governments to design neighborhood-scale programs that reduce disaster risk, increase community resiliency, and bring down insurance rates,” he says on that page.

Climate accountability: Allen supports disclosure of insurers’ fossil fuel investments, financial stress tests and efforts to make fossil fuel companies bear responsibility for climate-related damages.

Claims and consumer service: His platform calls for improving the Department of Insurance’s operations and holding insurers accountable for delayed or denied claims.

“I will make it a top priority to modernize the Department of Insurance and make it work for Californians,” he says on his campaign issues page.