GET READY TO VOTE

• What’s at stake in this race
• The candidates
• Follow the money

What’s at stake in this race

California’s insurance commissioner regulates the nation’s largest property and casualty insurance market — including homeowners and auto — which has been in distress for the past few years as wildfire risk has grown and insurers pulled back from writing policies. The availability of affordable insurance affects homeowners, businesses, landlords and renters, local communities and the state’s economy. Whoever is elected will have the “second-hardest job in the state behind the governor,” said one former commissioner.

The candidates

Ben Allen

Party: Democrat
State senator

Allen was elected in 2014 and has a strong record on environmental issues, authoring the law that largely restricts plastic straws and single-use plastics in the state. Since his district was hit by the Palisades Fire in January 2025, he has authored legislation to give the insurance department more enforcement power and to establish a loan program for wildfire resilience. If elected commissioner, he wants to increase the insurance department’s staff to handle consumer complaints. He would also push California to rethink where it builds.

Key endorsements

• California Environmental Voters
• California Professional Firefighters
• Sierra Club California
• Democratic Party

Media:

• San Francisco Chronicle

More voter resources:

• Candidate website
• Full list of endorsements

Jane Kim

Party: Democrat
Consumer advocate/attorney

The former San Francisco supervisor succeeded in securing free community college for city residents, the state’s first $15 minimum wage ordinance and a tenant-protection ordinance to avoid unjust evictions. Kim wants to establish “natural disaster insurance for all,” a state-run authority funded by premiums paid to insurance companies that would guarantee coverage for wildfires and floods. She would also expand California’s low-cost auto insurance program.

Key endorsements

• SEIU California
• California Teachers Association
• California Faculty Association
• California Labor Federation

More voter resources:

• Candidate website
• Full list of endorsements
  

In their own words

Statements to CalMatters

Ben Allen: “After disasters, California should ensure people recover, not be forced out”

Jane Kim “Insurers’ blockbuster profits enrich shareholders and CEOs, not customers”

Go deeper on policy

Home insurance

Allen said mitigation at the home and community levels should help make neighborhoods more resilient, thus reducing risk and improving insurability.

Kim wants to improve home insurance availability by tying it to insurance companies’ ability to sell auto insurance in the state.

Auto insurance

Allen said expanding eligibility for a low-cost insurance program to everyone could hurt the low-income drivers who really need it.

Kim wants to expand a state program that allows low-income drivers to get low-cost insurance to every California driver.

Insurance claims

Allen would require insurers to provide real-time reports of delays and outstanding claims after a disaster and to explain claim denials. He would add staff to handle complaints and appoint a consumer advocate in the insurance department.

Kim would pursue a way to freeze rates when a policyholder files a claim and penalize insurers for delaying claims. She would create a public dashboard that shows insurers’ records on claims.

Climate policy

Allen touts writing Proposition 4, the climate bond measure approved by voters in 2024. He supports holding the fossil fuel industry accountable for its role in climate change and increased wildfire risk.

Insurance companies should disclose how they spend policyholders’ premiums, including whether they financially support the fossil fuel industry, Kim said.

Development

Allen would involve local and state officials, firefighters, builders and the insurance industry in thinking about development, including by avoiding building in areas of high fire risk and encouraging people to move away from such areas.

Kim said while the state needs to move away from building in high-risk areas, it’s inevitable that additional areas will eventually be considered high risk.

FAIR Plan

Allen wants to increase oversight of the last-resort fire insurance provider and make it more accountable to the insurance department.

“Natural disaster insurance for all” would reduce the need for the FAIR Plan, though Kim said it will still be important to have an insurer of last resort. The plan needs to be more accountable, she said.

Follow the money