Ben
Allen

The general election between Ben Allen and Jane Kim for California Insurance Commissioner is scheduled for November 3, 2026.

POLITICO described a recent poll showing Kim narrowly ahead of Allen, with a majority of voters still undecided, but did not publish specific figures.

POLITICO reported Allen supports extending policies of outgoing Commissioner Ricardo Lara alongside community fire-risk reduction efforts. Both Allen and Kim stated they will not accept campaign contributions from the insurance industry.

CalMatters reported the governor recently signed Allen's SB 1209, co-sponsored by Commissioner Ricardo Lara. The law increases the commissioner's ability to require insurers to address problems found in department investigations, but is not retroactive.

At an Oct. 8 candidate event in Sacramento, Allen described his approach as 'grounded in the realities we're facing now.' Kim called his plan mere tinkering with the status quo; Allen called her proposals 'totally unprecedented and unmoored.'

In an Orange County Register voter-guide response, Allen argued for reducing wildfire risk and encouraging insurers to return to California rather than replacing the existing private-led insurance system.

By early October, Allen's endorsers included the California Democratic Party, U.S. Senators Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla, California Environmental Voters, California Professional Firefighters, and Sierra Club California. The San Francisco Chronicle also endorsed him.

The Los Angeles Times published a voter guide covering Allen and Kim, noting Allen's primary result of 19.6% and outlining both candidates' policy positions.

The Bay Area News Group editorial board endorsed Allen, describing his proposals as practical. The board also reported Allen's campaign had raised about $1.6 million, with top donors including business and labor interests.

The Marin IJ editorial board endorsed Allen, calling for experience and a workable fix over what it characterized as an experiment.

SFist, citing earlier Guardian reporting, noted that crypto entrepreneur Chris Larsen contributed $1 million to a PAC supporting Allen. This is a PAC contribution, not a direct campaign donation.

A poll reported by SFist and the Sacramento Bee put Kim at ~25% and Allen at ~18% among 1,000 respondents, with more than 57% undecided. Pollster Adam Probolsky cautioned this was not a decided race.

Kim finished first with 26.8% and Allen second with 19.6% in the primary, both advancing to the November general election.