State Senator Ben Allen (D–Santa Monica) announced Tuesday that he will run for California Insurance Commissioner in 2026.
Allen, who has represented parts of Los Angeles County in the State Senate since 2014, said he would focus on making insurance more affordable and accessible while ensuring the system adapts to climate-related risks.
“The Palisades Fire underscored what we’ve known for years: our world is changing beneath our feet,” Allen said in a statement. “If we want to keep California affordable and livable, we must make our insurance system adaptable to the realities of a changing world, while making sure insurance companies treat people right and stay viable so that consumers and our economy have real options.”
The Palisades Fire in January burned near Allen’s childhood home and current residence, destroying parts of the district he has represented for more than a decade. In its aftermath, Allen supported legislation to provide tax relief for victims, assist displaced mobile home park residents, and strengthen coverage requirements. He has also backed home-hardening standards intended to reduce wildfire risks.
Allen enters the race with nearly $1 million in campaign funds and support from several top Democrats, including U.S. Senator Adam Schiff, Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire, Pro Tem-designee Monique Limón, and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas. A recent Probolsky Research poll showed Allen leading the Democratic field.
Allen has built a reputation in Sacramento as a policy-focused lawmaker, particularly on environmental and consumer issues. He authored the 2024 climate bond, which provided new funding for wildfire mitigation, and carried legislation on plastics reduction, campaign finance transparency, and coastal protection. Most recently, he authored the Combating Auto Retail Scams (CARS) Act, expanding consumer protections in car sales.
The campaign released polling information with their announcement that showed Allen having nearly 10% of the vote, far more than any other Democrat but far behind the leader, Republican Robert Howell. The poll showed that over half of the electorate is undecided.
Allen, 46, is a former school board president and graduate of Harvard, Cambridge, and UC Berkeley School of Law.
