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The Consumer Federation of California
Ben Allen is Running
Sierra
Why Ben is Running.
Ten years into a distinguished career in the California State Senate, January 2025 marked a turning point in Ben Allen’s career. When fire tore through his community, Ben stepped up to lead in a moment of crisis to help support thousands of families who faced the devastating loss of their homes and memories.
He worked to bring state and federal leaders together to help with resident assistance, secure funding to rebuild critical landmarks like Will Rogers State Historic Park and to help families piece their lives back together. Ben 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.
Ben has a long track record of negotiating difficult legislation in the State Capitol on complicated and important topics. As wildfires and other natural disasters grow more severe due to a changing climate, this is a moment that demands bold, effective leadership. That’s what is driving Ben to run for California State Insurance Commissioner: to continue his lifelong commitment to fighting for the public good — protecting consumers, safeguarding the environment, and making government more transparent and accountable to the people it serves.
news & press
Campaign Updates: In the News
NEWS ARTICLE
California Wildfire Risk Bills Cruising Through Legislature
Senate Bill 894 and Senate Bill 1297, which both address wildfire risk reduction in the state, passed through their committees this week without opposition, and they are soon set to be heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Both bills were introduced by state Sen. Ben Allen, D-Pacific Palisades, who is one of 11 candidates for California Insurance Commissioner.
NEWS ARTICLE
California Insurance Commissioner Candidates Debate Solutions to Wildfire-Driven Crisis
Allen represents portions of Los Angeles that were affected by last year’s fires. He spoke of bills he’d authored to improve consumer and environmental protections, including Proposition 4, a $10 billion bond passed in 2024 that provides money for climate resilience, including wildfire prevention.
He spoke of the need to focus on community-wide fire risk reduction and push insurance companies to better support customers.
NEWS ARTICLE
Who controls your home insurance? A high-stakes California race could decide
Allen, a Democratic state senator from Los Angeles County, has the race’s largest campaign war chest, at more than $1 million. He’s also secured key endorsements from California Sens. Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla.
What is the role of insurance commissioner?
What does the Insurance Commissioner do?
Rising costs of home insurance
Mitigating the Rising Costs of Homeowners Insurance
A look back on 2025
2025 Year in Review
A year of resilience & community.
Ben Allen for insurance Commissioner
Putting People First in CA’s Insurance System
Ben didn't wait to be asked.
In the aftermath of the Palisades Fire, Ben Allen went to work — helping thousands of people who lost everything rebuild their homes and their lives. He held insurance companies accountable to pay homeowners what they were owed, pushed for faster rebuilding, and funded the brush clearing and forest management that keeps the next fire from becoming the next catastrophe.
“There is only one candidate who grasps the complexity of this crisis and has the legislative experience to address it. That is Ben Allen.”
The Consumer Federation of California
Putting consumer protection ahead of corporate profit
“After CFC’s endorsement committee interviewed all six top candidates for California Insurance Commissioner it became obvious that the best choice for the office is State Senator Ben Allen,” … ”California deserves an Insurance Commissioner that is truly committed to actual consumer protection.”
“Ben didn’t stop fighting for us until our claims were finally paid. As Insurance Commissioner, he’ll always put people first.”
Melissa, Palisades resident
California’s Insurance System is Broken.
Ben Allen is Running
to Fix It.
The insurance companies charge outrageous rates, while denying claims and dropping coverage. Californians are facing an insurance crisis.
Reduce the outrageous cost of insurance
Prevent companies from dropping policies and denying claims
Stabilize the insurance market to ensure fair and affordable rates
Require insurers provide timely, fair treatment
Move People off the FAIR plan that drives up rates for everyone
Make the Department of Insurance accessible and accountable to consumers
May 2, 2026
"State Sen. Ben Allen, a Santa Monica Democrat who represents the Palisades, is widely regarded as a thoughtful lawmaker who takes the time to understand all sides of an issue. As someone who witnessed the devastation wrought by the Los Angeles fires and the roadblocks to rebuilding, Allen has unique insight into the insurance market’s strengths and weaknesses.
"...he’s authored important consumer-protection laws — including one requiring insurers to increase upfront payment for personal property claims without residents first having to submit a detailed home inventory — and is working on bills to provide low-interest loans for risk-reduction projects and help homeowners keep their coverage if they mitigate insurer-identified risks.
Allen is an experienced legislator capable of pushing big reforms through the state’s bureaucracy as needed."
Ben allen for insurance commissioner
Trusted by California's Leaders and Front Line Workers
Senator Adam Schiff
Senator Alex Padilla
California Professional Firefighters
Sierra
Club
California Democratic Party
California Building and Construction Trades Council
ABOUT BEN
In January 2025, fire tore through Ben Allen’s Palisades community. As State Senator, Ben stepped up to lead in a moment of crisis, helping support thousands of families who faced the devastating loss of their homes and memories.
Ben brought state and federal leaders together to help with resident assistance, secure funding to rebuild critical landmarks like Will Rogers State Historic Park and to help families piece their lives back together. Ben 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 content 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.
Ben has a long track record of negotiating difficult legislation in the State Capitol on complicated and important topics. As wildfires and other natural disasters grow more severe due to a changing climate, this is a moment that demands bold, effective leadership. That’s what is driving Ben to run for California State Insurance Commissioner: to continue his lifelong commitment to fighting for the public good — protecting consumers, safeguarding the environment, and making government more transparent and accountable to the people it serves.
Before joining the Senate, Ben served as President of the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board of Education and lecturer at UCLA Law School. He and his wife, Melanie, an attorney, live in Santa Monica with their two young children.