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Putting People First in CA’s Insurance System

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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.&nbsp;"...he’s authored important consumer-protection laws&nbsp;—&nbsp;<a href="https://sd24.senate.ca.gov/news/press-release/insurance-commissioner-ricardo-lara-and-senator-ben-allen-limit-list-important" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">including one</a>&nbsp;requiring insurers to increase upfront payment for personal property claims without residents first having to submit a detailed home inventory&nbsp;— and is working on&nbsp;<a href="https://sd24.senate.ca.gov/news/press-release/multifaceted-approach-reduce-fire-risk-advances-out-committee" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">bills</a>&nbsp;to provide low-interest loans for risk-reduction projects and&nbsp;<a href="https://sd24.senate.ca.gov/news/press-release/needed-policyholder-protections-receive-insurance-committee-approval" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">help homeowners keep their coverage</a>&nbsp;if they mitigate insurer-identified risks.&nbsp;Allen is an experienced legislator capable of pushing big reforms through the state’s bureaucracy as needed."<img src="https://run.imgix.net/8cf510ae-d418-4cf8-a40f-70c5d55a9f22/ddba97c8-e1bd-4492-bb06-e8b92905d01e/ddba97c8-e1bd-4492-bb06-e8b92905d01e.png?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C1280%2C132&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="left" alignwidth="25" variant="base">

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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&nbsp;

Move People off the FAIR plan that drives up rates for everyone

Make the Department of Insurance accessible and accountable to consumers

<h3>California’s Insurance System is Broken.</h3><h3>Ben Allen is Running to Fix It. </h3>The insurance companies charge outrageous rates, while denying claims and dropping coverage. Californians are facing an insurance crisis. <img src="https://run.imgix.net/8cf510ae-d418-4cf8-a40f-70c5d55a9f22/a81eddac-06ff-44ce-9c72-984039f65241/a81eddac-06ff-44ce-9c72-984039f65241.jpg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C6445%2C4672&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="center" alignwidth="50" variant="framed">

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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.&nbsp;

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Among many issues, Allen has made his mark as a national leader on climate and environmental policy:&nbsp;

Among many issues, Allen has made his mark as a national leader on climate and environmental policy:&nbsp;

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<h5 style="text-align: left;">Ben Allen for insurance Commissioner</h5><img src="https://run.imgix.net/8cf510ae-d418-4cf8-a40f-70c5d55a9f22/2d5560cd-47c8-4c83-908d-7da2583b4e4a/2d5560cd-47c8-4c83-908d-7da2583b4e4a.png?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C1080%2C1080&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="right" alignwidth="25" tiltdirection="left" variant="base"><h1 style="text-align: left;">Putting People First in CA’s Insurance System</h1>

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“When the Palisades fires hit, Ben Allen showed up. And he didn't leave until we got what we were owed. He’s relentless in his fight to ensure we were treated fairly by the insurance companies.”

“Ben didn’t stop fighting for us until our claims were finally paid. As Insurance Commissioner, he’ll always put people first.”

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Putting People First in CA’s Insurance System

<h1>ABOUT BEN</h1>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.&nbsp; 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.&nbsp; 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.

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Ben Allen for Insurance Commissioner

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<img src="https://run.imgix.net/8cf510ae-d418-4cf8-a40f-70c5d55a9f22/879dd67f-c72f-44df-b04c-0163ee3eb2bf/879dd67f-c72f-44df-b04c-0163ee3eb2bf.png?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C331%2C1080%2C337&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="center" alignwidth="35" variant="base"><h3 style="text-align: center;">The Consumer Federation of California Putting consumer protection ahead of corporate profit</h3><h4 style="text-align: center;">“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.”</h4>

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<h2 style="text-align: center">Allen is a proven advocate for strengthening transparency and strengthening democracy.</h2><h4>He authored the Voter’s Choice Act, which modernized elections and expanded access to the ballot and championed the Disclose Act and other reforms that shine a light on political spending.&nbsp;</h4>He has consistently scored tops in the Legislature in the California Clean Money Campaign’s reports for his commitment to transparency and political reform.&nbsp;&nbsp;<img src="https://run.imgix.net/8cf510ae-d418-4cf8-a40f-70c5d55a9f22/63434262-22f8-41d8-bf9e-976f5e7151c5/63434262-22f8-41d8-bf9e-976f5e7151c5.jpeg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=86%2C0%2C940%2C720&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="left" alignwidth="42.5" variant="framed"><h4>Allen is also an accomplished leader for public education, arts, culture, and science, having served both as Chairman of the Senate Education Committee and the Joint Committee on the Arts.&nbsp;</h4>He’s currently on the California Film Commission, and was the Senate lead on the successful recent effort to dramatically expand and extend the state’s Film &amp; TV Tax Credit and stem the impacts of runaway production on the state’s economy.&nbsp;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.

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"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.&nbsp;"...he’s authored important consumer-protection laws&nbsp;—&nbsp;<a href="https://sd24.senate.ca.gov/news/press-release/insurance-commissioner-ricardo-lara-and-senator-ben-allen-limit-list-important" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">including one</a>&nbsp;requiring insurers to increase upfront payment for personal property claims without residents first having to submit a detailed home inventory&nbsp;— and is working on&nbsp;<a href="https://sd24.senate.ca.gov/news/press-release/multifaceted-approach-reduce-fire-risk-advances-out-committee" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">bills</a>&nbsp;to provide low-interest loans for risk-reduction projects and&nbsp;<a href="https://sd24.senate.ca.gov/news/press-release/needed-policyholder-protections-receive-insurance-committee-approval" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">help homeowners keep their coverage</a>&nbsp;if they mitigate insurer-identified risks.&nbsp;Allen is an experienced legislator capable of pushing big reforms through the state’s bureaucracy as needed."

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<img src="https://run.imgix.net/8cf510ae-d418-4cf8-a40f-70c5d55a9f22/d6bc91b5-781b-4cab-872b-1b76c9c99b3d/d6bc91b5-781b-4cab-872b-1b76c9c99b3d.png?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C335%2C1080%2C214&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="center" alignwidth="40" variant="base"><h2 style="text-align: center;">“There is only one candidate who grasps the complexity of this crisis and has the legislative experience to address it. That is Ben Allen.”</h2>

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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.&nbsp;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.&nbsp;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.&nbsp;Ben has a long track record of negotiating difficult legislation in the State Capitol on complicated and important topics.&nbsp;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.

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California's insurance crisis threatens the financial security of millions of families across our state. As wildfires and climate disasters intensify, insurers are pulling out of communities and leaving homeowners stranded on the overburdened FAIR Plan — driving up costs for everyone. I wrote Proposition 4 to begin addressing this emergency, but we need comprehensive reform led by the Insurance Commissioner that balances consumer protection with market stability, modernizes our outdated systems, and invests in community-scale solutions that reduce risk and bring insurers back. 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.

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Since his first election to the State Senate in 2014, Ben has become an effective leader in the Legislature, leading critical committees and spearheading nearly dozens of new laws across a wide range of issues.&nbsp;

<h2 style="text-align: center">Since his first election to the State Senate in 2014, Ben has become an effective leader in the Legislature, leading critical committees and spearheading dozens of new laws across a wide range of issues.&nbsp;</h2>

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Ben Allen, Democrat: The El Segundo state senator, who represents a district that was hit by the Southern California wildfires, wants to set up a consumer advocate position within the insurance department. He also wants to create funding sources, such as state-backed loans, to make homes more fire resistant.&nbsp;

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State Sen. Ben Allen is turning up the pressure on California insurers, pushing two bills through a key committee that would force companies to spell out why they are cutting loose homeowners and give people a fair shot to fix problems before coverage disappears.

Ben Allen Puts Heat On Insurers As Santa Monica Homeowners Get Squeezed

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, March 23, 2026Contact: <a href="mailto:info@benallenca.com">info@benallenca.com</a>&nbsp;<h4>U.S. Senator Alex Padilla Endorses Ben Allen For California Insurance Commissioner</h4>LOS ANGELES — U.S. Senator Alex Padilla today announced his endorsement of State Senator Ben Allen’s (D-Santa Monica) campaign for California Insurance Commissioner – citing his long track record of solving tough challenges and supporting families after last year’s devastating wildfires in Los Angeles County.“Ben Allen is the kind of leader who shows up when the smoke is thick and stays until the hard work of recovery is done. I’ve seen his grit and intellect in action, working with him to defend Californians’ right to vote and support families displaced by the Eaton and Palisades Fires,” said Senator Padilla. “Ben is a bold and thoughtful public servant with a proven track record of turning complex problems into progressive solutions, which is why I believe he is the best person to lead California through the challenges facing our insurance system.”Senator Padilla joins his colleague, U.S. Senator Adam Schiff, as supporters of Allen’s campaign – alongside Senate President Pro Tem Monique Limon, Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, and a strong majority of Allen's Democratic legislative colleagues. He’s also earned the support of organizations like California Environmental Voters, California Professional Firefighters, and the California Federation of Teachers. &nbsp;ABOUT BEN ALLENAllen is a longtime environmental policy leader – one of the most respected, according to Politico and CalMatters – and was the <a href="https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB867" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">lead author of the climate bond</a> <a href="https://ballotpedia.org/California_Proposition_4,_Parks,_Environment,_Energy,_and_Water_Bond_Measure_(2024)" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">passed by voters in November 2024</a> that provided the first tranche of fire mitigation funds for brush clearance and other efforts right after the fires.The Palisades Fire in January was a defining moment for Allen 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.&nbsp;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 <a href="https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB610" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">assist mobile home park residents</a> who lost everything, <a href="https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB663" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">provide tax assistance for fire victims</a>, and give greater help to victims trying to <a href="https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB495" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">maximize contents coverage from their insurers</a>. 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.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 <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/01/climate/california-plastics-recycling-law.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">the nation’s most ambitious plastic waste reduction laws</a> to brokering a bipartisan deal to reduce the environmental impact of off-highway vehicles that the <a href="https://www.sacbee.com/opinion/editorials/article173558766.html#:~:text=Sen.%20Ben%20Allen%2C%20D%2DSanta%20Monica%2C%20brokered%20a%20deal%20that%20won%20near%20unanimous%20support%20to%20allow%20off%2Droad%20aficionados%20to%20continue%20to%20pursue%20their%20hobby%20in%20California.%20If%20only%20Congress%20could%20work%20out%20such%20compromises." target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sacramento Bee editorial board praised by refraining, “If only Congress could work out such compromises.”</a>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 <a href="https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB766" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Combating Auto Retail Scams (CARS) Act</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;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.&nbsp; 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 <a href="http://BenAllenCA.com">BenAllenCA.com</a>.###

U.S. Senator Alex Padilla today announced his endorsement of State Senator Ben Allen’s (D-Santa Monica) campaign for California Insurance Commissioner – citing his long track record of solving tough challenges and supporting families after last year’s devastating wildfires in Los Angeles County.

U.S. Senator Alex Padilla Endorses Ben Allen For California Insurance Commissioner

California legislators announced a 13-bill wildfire prevention package Wednesday aimed at addressing the state's escalating megafire crisis through home hardening, beneficial fire programs and new firefighting technologies.The joint legislative effort, unveiled by Megafire Action and a group of lawmakers, comes as communities devastated by recent wildfires continue struggling to recover.<a href="https://sd24.senate.ca.gov/">Sen. Ben Allen</a>, who represents the Pacific Palisades and Malibu communities devastated by wildfires last January, described the ongoing hardship facing his constituents."Tens of thousands of families remain displaced from their homes. They're fighting with their insurance for days on end and picking up their entire lives," Allen said. "They're moving from place to place, trying to figure out where to relocate their kids. Some of them have had to move several times over, even over the course of the past year, because of all the instability."Allen said many residents remain uncertain whether they can return to their communities because of the backbreaking costs of rebuilding. Beyond current insurance battles, he said constituents worry about future coverage."They're also worried about rebuilding just to have no insurance available to them in the end, which would then continue to make it so that living is unaffordable," Allen said.The legislative package addresses wildfire resilience on three fronts: expanding beneficial fire to restore landscapes, providing homeowners with resources for defensible space and home hardening, and accelerating adoption of new firefighting technologies.Eric Horne, director of California Megafire Action, framed the effort as both a tribute and a commitment."We honor the victims and survivors of the Los Angeles wildfires and countless other conflagrations, not only by helping communities recover, but by committing ourselves to make government work better for Californians before disaster strikes," Horne said.Allen is sponsoring SB 894, which would establish the California <a href="https://www.smdp.com/defense-attorneys-for-palisades-fire-suspect-seek-release-cite-new-evidence-of-lafd-failures/">Wildfire</a> Resilience Loan Program modeled after the state's existing Go Green Energy Financing Program. The measure would help property owners finance upgrades including roofing, windows, siding and vegetation screens on vents."Home hardening and fire mitigation retrofitting is not cheap, and the high costs end up preventing a lot of people from making these needed structural improvements," Allen said.He noted that home hardening investments can reduce a structure's fire risk by over 35 percent.

California legislators announced a 13-bill wildfire prevention package Wednesday aimed at addressing the state's escalating megafire crisis through home hardening, beneficial fire programs and new firefighting technologies.<a href="https://sd24.senate.ca.gov/">Sen. Ben Allen</a>, who represents the Pacific Palisades and Malibu communities devastated by wildfires last January, described the ongoing hardship facing his constituents.

California Lawmakers Unveil 13-Bill Wildfire Prevention Package

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Huntington Beach Coffee with the Candidate!

Join Senator Ben Allen for coffee and pastries on Sunday morning in Huntington Beach! An opportunity to learn more about his campaign for Insurance Commissioner, and his long track record fighting for the climate, consumers, and more.Hosted by OVSD School Board President Gina Clayton-Tarvin!

Longtime Environmental Leader, Consumer Advocate Vows to Protect Californians in the Face of a Changing Climate &amp; 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.&nbsp;“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 <a href="https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB610">assist mobile home park residents</a> who lost everything, <a href="https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB663">provide tax assistance for fire victims</a>, and give greater help to victims trying to <a href="https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB495">maximize contents coverage from their insurers</a>. 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 CAMPAIGNAllen’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 <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-Fsvu0cRic65nnwI8BgTGpeczb6Lq8uT/view?usp=sharing">recent polling from Probolsky Research</a> 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 ACCOMPLISHMENTAllen is a longtime environmental policy leader – one of the most respected according to Politico and CalMatters – and was the <a href="https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB867">lead author of the climate bond</a> <a href="https://ballotpedia.org/California_Proposition_4,_Parks,_Environment,_Energy,_and_Water_Bond_Measure_(2024)">passed by voters in November 2024</a> 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 <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/01/climate/california-plastics-recycling-law.html">the nation’s most ambitious plastic waste reduction laws</a> to brokering a bipartisan deal to reduce the environmental impact of off-highway vehicles that the <a href="https://www.sacbee.com/opinion/editorials/article173558766.html#:~:text=Sen.%20Ben%20Allen%2C%20D%2DSanta%20Monica%2C%20brokered%20a%20deal%20that%20won%20near%20unanimous%20support%20to%20allow%20off%2Droad%20aficionados%20to%20continue%20to%20pursue%20their%20hobby%20in%20California.%20If%20only%20Congress%20could%20work%20out%20such%20compromises.">Sacramento Bee editorial board praised by refraining, “If only Congress could work out such compromises.”</a>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 <a href="https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB766">Combating Auto Retail Scams (CARS) Act</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;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.&nbsp; 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 <a href="http://BenAllenCA.com">BenAllenCA.com</a>.###

Longtime Environmental Leader, Consumer Advocate Vows to Protect Californians in the Face of a Changing Climate &amp; Growing Insurance Crisis; Enters Race with Support of Primary Legislative Leaders, Senator Schiff

State Sen. Ben Allen Launches Campaign for California Insurance Commissioner

Allen has served as a member of the California state Senate since 2014. His plans include restoring a competitive insurance market, ensuring people are treated fairly after disasters and building resilient communities.

California Insurance Commissioner Race Has Diverse Field Amid ‘Insurance Crisis’

Virtual Town Hall with Ben Allen 

Join Senator Ben Allen for a conversation to learn more about his campaign for Insurance Commissioner, and provide your own thoughts and questions on this pivotal statewide race.

Join the <a href="https://sbdems.com/">San Bernardino Democratic Luncheon Club </a>and Senator Allen on Friday, January 30th at 11:30 AM at Juan Pollo Restaurant:&nbsp;1258 5th St, San Bernardino, CA 9241. Senator Allen will be there at 11:30 AM to meet in advance of the lunch, and then the official luncheon club will begin at 12pm. First 60 RSVPs will get free lunch!

San Bernardino Luncheon

Join the <a href="https://sbdems.com/">San Bernardino Democratic Luncheon Club </a>and Senator Allen on Friday, January 30th at 11:30 AM at Juan Pollo Restaurant. Senator Allen will be there at 11:30 AM to meet in advance of the lunch, and then the official luncheon club will begin at 12pm.&nbsp; First 60 people who RSVP will receive free lunch!&nbsp;

On January 7, 2025, the Palisades Fire erupted miles from my home, tearing through the community I represent in the State Senate. Helping friends, neighbors, and constituents who lost everything navigate insurance claims gave me a front-row seat to our broken insurance system. Standing amid smoke and uncertainty, I saw what failure looks like. Those experiences have shown me the importance of transparency, accountability, and putting people first. I got to work helping survivors and pushing legislation for resources and reforms. I have a long track-record of getting difficult legislation through on a wide variety of topics. As Insurance Commissioner, I would bring Capitol know-how with the local experience of the fires to fight for a system that works better for working Californians.

On January 7, 2025, the Palisades Fire erupted miles from my home, tearing through the community I represent in the State Senate. Helping friends, neighbors, and constituents who lost everything navigate insurance claims gave me a front-row seat to our broken insurance system. Standing amid smoke and uncertainty, I saw what failure looks like. Those experiences have shown me the importance of transparency, accountability, and putting people first.

Meet the insurance commissioner candidates: Sen Ben Allen

Canvassing with Santa Monica Dems

Join Santa Monica Democratic Club to talk to voters about Ben Allen for Insurance Commissioner on the final GOTV weekend!

GOTV Phone Bank

JOIN US TO GOTV before the primary!As the East Bay Times said: "Few statewide elections stand to matter more this year than the race for insurance commissioner — the primary official tasked with stemming a wildfire-stoked home insurance crisis that has sent rates soaring across California."Now more than ever, the Insurance Commissioner race is a competitive and pivotal race for affordability, climate, and housing in California, yet so often unknown!That's why we need YOU to help us spread the word about this race, and most importantly, why Ben Allen is the best candidate!

La Opinión considera que de los candidatos, por sus cualidades personales, su récord como legislador y su conocimiento de los temas Ben Allen es el más adecuado y recomienda a sus lectores votar por él.&nbsp;

Editorial: Por Ben Allen para Comisionado de Seguros de California

Allen, a Democrat, would take a more comprehensive approach to risk reduction, including by creating funding sources such as <a href="https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260sb894">state-backed loans</a> for hardening homes, and by bringing together insurers, builders, local governments, firefighters and the state to work on solutions.

Who wants to be California’s insurance commissioner? Your guide to the candidates

Those L.A. fires burned parts of the district represented by state Sen. Ben Allen, D-Santa Monica. The Southern California lawmaker has the backing of most of California’s Democratic establishment, including both U.S. senators and other top lawmakers.

Who’s running for California Insurance Commissioner — and what does the job do?

Final Pre-Convention Meet &amp; Greet

Our last meet and greet before CADEM convention! Join us to learn about&nbsp;Senator Allen and&nbsp;his run, and bring your own questions and perspectives on insurance.&nbsp;

So Cal Meet & Greet

The FAIR Plan was never meant to be a long-term solution — it’s a backstop. However, in recent years, this “insurer of last resort” has tripled in size, becoming one of the state’s largest insurers. As the FAIR Plan grows, its costs and exposure can ripple through the broader insurance system and contribute to higher premiums statewide. The goal must be to transition as many Californians as possible back into the traditional insurance market.Priorities:<ul><li>Rebuild confidence in the private market: Investing in risk reduction efforts, while requiring insurers to underwrite those who fire harden in high-risk areas and rewarding those who reenter the California market. California needs a suite of policies that together lower climate-related risks, empower communities to adapt to new climate realities, facilitate investments to prevent disasters, allow insurers to more accurately calculate risk, and require them to participate in the stable market enabled by these policies. So much of this will come down to policies that push for fire resilient communities - from construction materials, community fire safe practices, and more effective vegetation management to stronger and more targeted firefighting infrastructure. </li><li>Support FAIR Plan solvency while reforming it: Use the Plan’s new IBank bonding authority to ensure claims can be paid promptly, while improving governance. </li><li>Reward mitigation: Prioritize FAIR Plan policyholders who meet Safer from Wildfires standards for transition into private coverage—aligning risk reduction with market stability. In cooperation with CAL FIRE and the academic community, assess areas of the state with high concentrations of FAIR Plan policies and develop community-scale roadmaps that show the path back to insurability through systemic risk reduction. </li><li>Long-term risk reduction: Pair insurance reform with local planning tools—retrofits, defensible space, ignition-source removal, and managed retreat where appropriate—to shrink the high-risk pool and protect long-term insurability. I will coordinate with local governments to take the highest risk open spaces out of development, protecting future residents from dangerous and uninsurable conditions. </li><li>Rebuild smarter: Support resilient redevelopment in post-disaster areas like the Palisades and Altadena as models for safer, more fire resilient, more insurable communities of the future. </li></ul>

The FAIR Plan was never meant to be a long-term solution — it’s a backstop. However, in recent years, this “insurer of last resort” has tripled in size, becoming one of the state’s largest insurers. Since all Californian policyholders cover the cost of this program, not just those on the Plan, this growth is driving up rates for everyone. The goal must be to transition as many Californians as possible back into the traditional insurance market.

Getting People Off the FAIR Plan

Candidates vying for the position of state insurance commissioner in the <a href="https://www.kqed.org/politics">June primary election</a> met at a forum in downtown San Francisco on Thursday to make the case for why they’re right for the job.The normally sleepy race is attracting a lot of attention as <a href="https://www.kqed.org/wildfires">wildfires</a> and inflation have caused a crisis in the state’s home insurance market — where coverage can be both difficult to obtain and costly.The state’s insurance commissioner has the primary job of setting the rules insurance companies need to follow in the state. It’s a role currently held by Ricardo Lara, who is termed out in November.

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.

California Insurance Commissioner Candidates Debate Solutions to Wildfire-Driven Crisis

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, January 28, 2026Contact: <a href="mailto:info@benallenca.com">info@benallenca.com</a>&nbsp;California Teachers &amp; Most Democratic Legislators Agree: Ben Allen is the Right Candidate for Insurance CommissionerLOS ANGELES — A majority of Democratic state legislators – and the California Federation of Teachers – have endorsed State Senator Ben Allen’s (D-Santa Monica) campaign for California Insurance Commissioner. “Senator Allen cares deeply about public education and our public educators and classified staff,” said Jeff Freitas, President of the California Federation of Teachers. &nbsp;“He is working to ensure that school districts have the tools to push back against unscrupulous insurance business practices. &nbsp;He has a long track record of fighting for consumers and for the public interest, and we know he’ll fight for accountability in the insurance system for regular working Californians.” “Senator Allen doesn’t just make promises - he has taken on difficult issues and delivered for the people of California, and for that he has earned the respect of his colleagues and constituents,” said Senator Sasha Renee Perez (D-Altadena). “We have worked closely together to help fire survivors and impacted communities in the wake of the terrible LA-area fires, and Senator Allen has my support for Insurance Commissioner. I trust him to will hold insurance companies accountable and fight for working Californians struggling to afford life here.”“I’m so grateful to my colleagues and our teachers for their support and encouragement as I run for this incredibly difficult and important position,” said Senator Allen. &nbsp;“Through my time in the Senate, I have worked hard to deliver difficult bills through the legislature that have strengthened our educational system and protected our environment and California consumers.”Endorsements from 29&nbsp;members of the Assembly and 18 state senators convey Allen’s significant support ahead of the California Democratic Party endorsing convention in February, where state party delegates — many of whom are appointed by these elected officials — will cast their votes for statewide constitutional offices.These leaders include Senate President Pro Tem Monique Limon, Pro Tem Emeritus Mike McGuire, and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas – all of whom announced their support for Allen when he launched his campaign in mid-September.29&nbsp;Assembly Members<ul><li>Chris Rogers, AD02</li><li>Maggy Krell, AD06</li><li>Damon Connolly, AD12</li><li>Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, AD16</li><li>Matt Haney, AD17</li><li>Marc Berman, AD23</li><li>Alex Lee, AD24</li><li>Patrick J. Ahrens, AD26</li><li>Esmeralda Soria, AD27</li><li>Gail Pellerin, AD28</li><li>Robert Rivas, AD29</li><li>Dawn Addis, AD30</li><li>Gregg Hart, AD37</li><li>Steve Bennett, AD38</li><li>Pilar Schiavo, AD40</li><li>John Harabedian, AD41</li><li>Jacqui Irwin, AD42</li><li>Nick Schultz, AD44</li><li>Jesse Gabriel, AD46</li><li>Robert Garcia, AD50</li><li>Rick Chavez Zbur, AD51</li><li>Jessica M. Caloza, AD 52</li><li>Michelle Rodriguez, AD53</li><li>Sharon Quirk-Silva, AD67</li><li>Josh Lowenthal, AD69</li><li>Cottie Petrie-Norris, AD73</li><li>Darshana R. Patel, AD76</li><li>Tasha Boerner, AD77</li><li>Christopher M. Ward, AD78</li></ul>18 State Senators&nbsp;<ul><li>Mike McGuire, SD02</li><li>Christopher Cabaldon, SD03</li><li>Jerry McNerney, SD05</li><li>Jesse Arreguín, SD07</li><li>Angelique Ashby, SD08</li><li>Aisha Wahab, SD10</li><li>Scott Wiener, SD11</li><li>Josh Becker, SD 13</li><li>Dave Cortese, SD15</li><li>Melissa Hurtado, SD16</li><li>Monique Limón, SD21</li><li>Sasha Renee Pérez, SD25</li><li>Henry Stern, SD27</li><li>Eloise Gomez Reyes, SD29</li><li>Bob Archuleta, SD30</li><li>Thomas Umberg, SD 34</li><li>Laura Richardson, SD 35</li><li>Catherine S. Blakespear, SD38</li></ul>ABOUT BEN ALLENAllen is a longtime environmental policy leader – one of the most respected according to Politico and CalMatters – and was the <a href="https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB867">lead author of the climate bond</a> <a href="https://ballotpedia.org/California_Proposition_4,_Parks,_Environment,_Energy,_and_Water_Bond_Measure_(2024)">passed by voters in November 2024</a> that provided the first tranche of fire mitigation funds for brush clearance and other efforts right after the fires.The Palisades Fire in January was a defining moment for Allen 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.&nbsp;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 <a href="https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB610">assist mobile home park residents</a> who lost everything, <a href="https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB663">provide tax assistance for fire victims</a>, and give greater help to victims trying to <a href="https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB495">maximize contents coverage from their insurers</a>. 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.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 <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/01/climate/california-plastics-recycling-law.html">the nation’s most ambitious plastic waste reduction laws</a> to brokering a bipartisan deal to reduce the environmental impact of off-highway vehicles that the <a href="https://www.sacbee.com/opinion/editorials/article173558766.html#:~:text=Sen.%20Ben%20Allen%2C%20D%2DSanta%20Monica%2C%20brokered%20a%20deal%20that%20won%20near%20unanimous%20support%20to%20allow%20off%2Droad%20aficionados%20to%20continue%20to%20pursue%20their%20hobby%20in%20California.%20If%20only%20Congress%20could%20work%20out%20such%20compromises.">Sacramento Bee editorial board praised by refraining, “If only Congress could work out such compromises.”</a>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 <a href="https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB766">Combating Auto Retail Scams (CARS) Act</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;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.&nbsp; 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 <a href="http://BenAllenCA.com">BenAllenCA.com</a>.###

California Teachers &amp; Most Democratic Legislators Agree: Ben Allen is the Right Candidate for Insurance CommissionerLOS ANGELES — A majority of Democratic state legislators – and the California Federation of Teachers – have endorsed State Senator Ben Allen’s (D-Santa Monica) campaign for California Insurance Commissioner.

California Teachers & Most Democratic Legislators Agree

Experimenting with group homeowners' insurance policies. Clear contracts. Upfront agreements between policyholders and insurers.Several candidates for the California Insurance Commissioner addressed the state's challenged insurance market, marred by insurers pulling back in recent years and by a stressed <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2026/02/26/home-insurance-california-fair-plan-changes-2026/88868357007/">California FAIR Plan</a>, the state’s insurer of last resort.In an over two-hour-long forum held in the Pacific Palisades — the Los Angeles community devastated by the over 23,000-acre fire last January — four of the <a href="https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/statewide-elections/2026-primary/cert-list-candidates.pdf">11 candidates</a> running for the position talked about wanting to move people off the California FAIR plan and modernize the California Department of Insurance on March 27. Californians will determine their next insurance commissioner in the general election in November.The candidates at the forum were<ul><li>Patrick Wolff, a financial analyst</li><li>Merritt Farren, an attorney who said he lost his home in the Palisades Fire</li><li>Steven Bradford, a former California state senator</li><li>California State Sen. Ben Allen, whose district includes the Pacific Palisades</li></ul>Here are a few takeaways of how insurance could look different in California, according to the candidates.<h2>Risk mitigation is key. But homeowners need to know they’ll benefit</h2>Allen said that among the factors that have “spooked” the reinsurance market in the state is, in recent years, the “massive perception of risk increase in the state.” He pointed to climate change and said that California fires have grown “more ferocious.” However, Allen said that risk reduction “is essential to the long-term stability and solvency of this market.”Allen said that among the factors that have “spooked” the reinsurance market in the state is, in recent years, the “massive perception of risk increase in the state.” He pointed to climate change and said that California fires have grown “more ferocious.” However, Allen said that risk reduction “is essential to the long-term stability and solvency of this market.”He said he’s passionate about ensuring resources are allocated to firefighting, vegetation management, wildlands management, and healthy forests.“When it comes to what is really working in terms of getting insurers to step up and insure people in high-risk areas, it’s the risk mitigation work,” he said.“This is an opportunity for us as a state to start to shift policies and practices toward greater risk reduction and greater fire wisdom and fire resilience,” Allen said. “It's going to take a culture shift, just like they have in Florida with regards to hurricanes, what we've had to do with regards to water conservation and drought. And that's ultimately the longer-term solution.”However, Allen said that communities and homeowners can’t be asked to do all the hard work of risk reduction if there isn’t going to be any benefit from insurers.

Allen said that risk reduction “is essential to the long-term stability and solvency of this market.”“This is an opportunity for us as a state to start to shift policies and practices toward greater risk reduction and greater fire wisdom and fire resilience,” Allen said.

Clear contracts, new tech. Can California's insurance woes be fixed?

Join us Friday night of convention (February 20th) from 10pm-12am for Ben Allen's Insure the California Dream Party in partnership with California Environmental Voters! Hosted in a hospitality suite in the Moscone Convention Center &amp; open to all CADEM Convention attendees until we reach capacity! Come join us to kick off convention right with desserts, a smoothie bar, drinks and a DJ!

Insure the California Dream Party

Join us Friday night of convention (February 20th) from 10pm-12am for Ben Allen's Insure the California Dream Party in partnership with California Environmental Voters! Hosted in a hospitality suite in the Moscone Convention Center &amp; open to all CADEM Convention attendees until we reach capacity! Come join us to kick off convention right with desserts, a smoothie bar, drinks and a DJ

After a disaster, Californians deserve timely, fair treatment from their insurers — not months of bureaucracy when they’re trying to rebuild their lives.Priorities:<ul><li>Simplify claims and reduce trauma: Build on SB 495 (“Eliminate the List Act”), a law I authored to require higher upfront payments for personal property coverage, ensuring survivors aren’t dragged through the mud itemizing every lost possession. </li><li>Enforce FAIR Plan accountability: Ensure compliance with Insurance Commissioner orders, especially regarding smoke damage claims, and strengthen oversight of the FAIR Plan. That is why I supported AB 234, a new law that reformed the FAIR Plan Governing Committee to ensure some of the people’s representatives have a seat at the table. </li><li>Transparency and responsiveness: Require insurers to clearly explain claim denials and maintain real-time reporting of delays and outstanding claims post-disaster. </li><li>Resilient rebuilding: Encourage and expedite rebuilding that meets new fire-hardening and community safety standards, ensuring affected residents can rebuild smarter and safer. We must learn the important lessons from previous disasters and invest in stronger communities. I will work with academics and other state agencies to develop resilient, low-risk rebuilding guidelines that all communities can adopt before a disaster strikes, so that if the worst does occur, everyone knows the path forward. We can then explore a statewide policy to ensure that communities are better prepared for disasters before they happen and have a road map to follow once they do.&nbsp;&nbsp; </li></ul>

After a disaster, Californians deserve timely, fair treatment from their insurers—not months of bureaucracy when they’re trying to rebuild their lives. That's why I'm refusing to accept insurance industry contributions in this campaign.

Write a short blurb about an issue your campaign is highlighting. Try to keep the text a similar size between the various issue blurbs.

Post-Disaster Insurer Compliance

GOTV Phone Bank for Ben Allen

JOIN US TO GOTV before the primary!As the East Bay Times said: "Few statewide elections stand to matter more this year than the race for insurance commissioner — the primary official tasked with stemming a wildfire-stoked home insurance crisis that has sent rates soaring across California."Now more than ever, the Insurance Commissioner race is a competitive and pivotal race for affordability, climate, and housing in California, yet so often unknown!That's why we need YOU to help us spread the word about this race, and most importantly, why Ben Allen is the best candidate!Meet with us via Zoom to hear directly from Ben about his plan for this role, take part in a short phone banking training, and then call voters!NO EXPERIENCE REQUIRED! Simply join us with yourself, your phone, and your passion to get Ben elected, and we will provide all other talking points and materials!

California’s insurance system is at a crossroads. To restore a solvent, competitive marketplace while keeping rates fair and affordable, we must strike the right balance between protecting consumers and ensuring insurers can sustainably operate in the state. I wrote <a href="https://ballotpedia.org/California_Proposition_4,_Parks,_Environment,_Energy,_and_Water_Bond_Measure_(2024)">Proposition 4</a>, the clean drinking water and fire prevention bond measure that voters overwhelmingly passed in 2024, to address the ever-increasing risk of climate-related disasters — especially fires — which have driven up costs for residents and led to insurers cutting back on coverage for Californians. This is just the first step to addressing this crisis.&nbsp;Priorities:<ul><li>Modernize rate-setting: Implement reforms allowing the use of wildfire catastrophe modeling and the inclusion of reinsurance costs in rate applications, aligning California with national standards and ensuring rates accurately reflect true climate risk. The Department of Insurance must use scientifically developed data and feedback to learn as it implements the Sustainable Insurance Strategy, building on its successes while also being prepared to pivot as we find more efficient and affordable solutions. </li><li>Faster rate reviews: Streamline the Department of Insurance rate review timelines so decisions are made within months, not years, giving insurers the certainty they need to keep writing policies in California. </li><li>Community hardening as rate stabilization: Continue expanding programs like Safer from Wildfires, the California Safe Homes grant program, and vegetation management programs to help residents lower risk—and therefore lower premiums.&nbsp;At the same time, hardening one home at a time simply won’t solve the problem. We must all work together to safeguard our communities and create resilient neighborhoods. 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. I will also work with insurers to harness the industry’s own financial strength to invest in the new solutions and technologies that can further drive down risk. </li><li>Data-driven resilience: Strengthen coordination between CAL FIRE, insurers, local governments, and communities to develop and meet fire-risk reduction targets statewide. We need ambitious targets that we can hold leaders to and scientifically backed data and metrics to ensure we can evaluate our efforts and strategically invest in proven strategies. This is why I supported <a href="https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB326">Senator Josh Becker's SB 326</a>, which seeks to improve coordination and create a framework to facilitate long-term plans and effective investments. </li><li>Reduce climate financial riskSome insurers’ investments and industrial underwriting have exposed them to greater climate-related financial risks than others, threatening both the industry and its Californian customers. I will restore past transparency programs that revealed insurers’ fossil fuel investments and require regular gold-standard stress testing to prevent insurers from underwriting or bankrolling risky fossil projects.</li><li>Climate accountability: I support efforts to ensure fossil fuel companies bear appropriate financial responsibility for climate damages that are driving insurance costs up for everyone. </li></ul>

California’s insurance system is at a crossroads. To restore a solvent, competitive marketplace while keeping rates fair and affordable, we must strike the right balance between protecting consumers and ensuring insurers can sustainably operate in the state. I wrote <a href="https://ballotpedia.org/California_Proposition_4,_Parks,_Environment,_Energy,_and_Water_Bond_Measure_(2024)">Proposition 4</a>, the clean drinking water and fire prevention bond measure that voters overwhelmingly passed in 2024, to address the ever-increasing risk of climate-related disasters — especially fires — which have driven up costs for residents and led to insurers cutting back on coverage for Californians. This is just the first step to addressing this crisis.&nbsp;

Stabilizing the Insurance Market

Tuesday, February 24, 2026After CDP Convention, Ben Allen is the Clear Frontrunner in Race for California Insurance Commissioner&nbsp;Following the California Democratic Party convention, the political reality is now clear – Ben Allen is the frontrunner in the race for Insurance Commissioner. The facts back this up across every measure that matters in a competitive primary:1. Grassroots Support. Allen won the California Democratic Party endorsement with 42% of the vote – a plurality that outpaced two opponents on their home turf in San Francisco, one of whom has spent years working full-time in progressive activism, and a longtime legislator who trailed far behind in single digits. That's not a fluke; that's a candidate with deep roots across the state Democratic electorate.2. Institutional Support. The endorsements speak for themselves: U.S. Senator Adam Schiff, former Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones, and the overwhelming majority of Allen's Democratic legislative colleagues. Add to that California Environmental Voters, California Professional Firefighters, and the California Federation of Teachers. Allen has done what’s rare in politics these days – unified the party's establishment and its grassroots.3. Fundraising. Allen leads the field with $940,444 cash on hand – and the contrast is even starker on closer inspection. His nearest competitor, Patrick Wolff, shows $609,363 on paper, but nearly $600,000 of that is a personal loan to himself. Steven Bradford has $571,256 cash on hand, and Jane Kim trails far behind at $94,728.4. A Track Record of Real Results. Allen brings 12 years of legislative accomplishment to this race. He has taken on insurance industry lobbyists, passed some of the nation's strongest consumer protection laws, and led the effort to invest $10 billion in wildfire prevention, water infrastructure, and climate resilience. He beat the fossil fuel industry to deliver the strongest plastics pollution laws in America. This isn't a candidate learning on the job – he's been doing the job.5. A Personal Story No One Else Can Tell. On January 7, 2025, the Palisades Fire erupted miles from Allen's home, tearing through a community he grew up near and has represented for over a decade. In the months that followed, Allen helped hundreds of constituents who lost everything navigate a broken insurance system. Standing amid smoke and ash, watching families fall through the cracks. He didn't read about the insurance crisis. He lived it.&nbsp;With the likelihood that only one Democrat advances into the top-two after the June primary, it’s clear that Ben Allen is the candidate best positioned to be the Democratic standard bearer and best prepared to lead on day one. He is the only one running with grassroots enthusiasm and institutional backing, fundraising strength and a record of real results, and a personal connection to the crisis Californians are living through.&nbsp;###

Following the California Democratic Party convention, the political reality is now clear – Ben Allen is the frontrunner in the race for Insurance Commissioner. The facts back this up across every measure that matters in a competitive primary

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