Longtime Environmental Leader, Consumer Advocate Vows to Protect Californians in the Face of a Changing Climate & Growing Insurance Crisis;

LOS ANGELES — California State Senator Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica) today announced his candidacy for California Insurance Commissioner, pledging to put consumers first while ensuring a strong, fair, robust, and climate-resilient insurance market that meets the state’s evolving challenges. He enters the race with considerable advantages in polling, fundraising, experience, and political support.

The Palisades Fire in January was a defining moment for Allen, a respected veteran legislator and former school board president, and his career in public service. The fire erupted off a trail he knew well, within sight of where he grew up and where he’s raising his family, and devastated communities he has represented for more than a decade in the State Senate. 

“The Palisades Fire underscored what we’ve known for years: our world is changing beneath our feet,” said State Senator Ben Allen. “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.”

Allen immediately got to work on efforts to assist with the initial governmental response – bringing state and federal leaders together to help with resident assistance, securing funding to rebuild critical local infrastructure and landmarks, and helping families piece their lives back together.

Allen wrote legislation to assist mobile home park residents who lost everything, provide tax assistance for fire victims, and give greater help to victims trying to maximize contents coverage from their insurers. He has supported efforts to establish home hardening standards to help residents better protect their homes from future fires and reduce liabilities for the insurance market. Needless to say, the experience has given him a clear-eyed look into the challenges and limitations of our current insurance system.

“I like digging into tough policy issues and working on solutions that put people and quality of life first. The role of Insurance Commissioner is incredibly difficult, and faces major headwinds. For so many Californians, insurance is too expensive and inaccessible,” said Allen. "We need leadership that will stand up for consumers and who knows how to work with industry, advocates, the Governor, and legislature to deliver for regular Californians just wanting affordable insurance coverage to be able to live in a home, drive a car, and thrive here. They also deserve to know that if something goes wrong, they’ll have a champion fighting for them at the Department of Insurance.”

POLITICAL HEAVYWEIGHTS WEIGH IN ON ALLEN’S CAMPAIGN

Allen’s entrance into the race was welcomed by U.S. Senator Adam Schiff, Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire and Pro Tem-designee Monique Limon, and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, along with many others whose support will be announced in the coming weeks. He starts the campaign with nearly $1 million in his campaign coffers. And recent polling from Probolsky Research showed him polling at double the numbers of the closest Democratic challenger.

“I’ve worked closely with Ben Allen for years, and I know him to be a thoughtful, hard-working, smart, and caring public servant. The Eaton and Palisades Fires showed just how difficult California’s insurance landscape has become — and will remain — as natural disasters multiply and intensify,” said U.S. Senator Adam Schiff. “Ben has a proven record of tackling tough public policy issues, and I can think of no one better prepared to take on the challenges ahead, which is why I’m supporting him for Insurance Commissioner.”

“I've worked hand-in-hand with Senator Allen for the past decade and he's been a tenacious and dedicated leader who always puts the needs of people first in the State Senate,” said Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire (D-North Coast). “We've partnered on wildfire response and prevention, holding utilities accountable, helping communities recover and rebuild after disasters and I'm excited about our work together in the years to come.”

“Having worked with Ben Allen for close to a decade, I’ve seen him tackle difficult issues and fight for policies to help improve the quality of life in California. After the devastating fires in his district, he immediately rolled up his sleeves to help the community recover and rebuild,” said Senate President Pro Tem-designee Monique Limon (D-Santa Barbara). “As someone who represents a fire-prone community, I know our next Insurance Commissioner needs proven leadership and commitment to real people, which is why I’m proud to endorse my friend and colleague Ben Allen.”

“As a leader in the legislature, I’ve seen Ben do great things, from striking deals to protect our environment from plastics pollution and increasing consumer protections for car buyers, to helping rebuild LA communities after the wildfires,” said Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Hollister). “Ben is tested and ready to take on the challenge of being California’s insurance commissioner. I’m proud to endorse him.”

A TRACK RECORD OF SERVICE AND ACCOMPLISHMENT

Allen is a longtime environmental policy leader – one of the most respected according to Politico and CalMatters – and was the lead author of the climate bond passed by voters in November 2024 that provided the first tranche of fire mitigation funds for brush clearance and other efforts right after the fires.

Allen is no stranger to tackling complex public policy challenges. In the Legislature, he has earned a reputation for solving difficult problems – from negotiating one of the nation’s most ambitious plastic waste reduction laws to brokering a bipartisan deal to reduce the environmental impact of off-highway vehicles that the Sacramento Bee editorial board praised by refraining, “If only Congress could work out such compromises.”

Throughout his career, Allen’s north star has always been clear: put the public interest first. He has authored laws to improve campaign finance transparency, strengthen voter access, protect coastal waters, and expand access to the arts in schools. Most recently, he successfully spearheaded the legislative passage of what is probably the most significant pro-car consumer bill passed in the state in decades, the Combating Auto Retail Scams (CARS) Act.  

Allen is a lifelong Californian who grew up attending public schools and now lives in his hometown with his wife and two young children. Allen has served in the State Senate since 2014 after having served as President of his hometown School Board.  He has degrees from Harvard, Cambridge, and a law degree from UC Berkeley, where he served as the Student Member of the Board of Regents.

For more information about his campaign, visit BenAllenCA.com.

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