FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, March 23, 2026

Contact: info@benallenca.com 

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

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.
 

ABOUT BEN ALLEN

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.

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. 

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.

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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