Ben Allen (D) and Jane Kim (D) are running in the general election for California commissioner of insurance on Nov. 3. They defeated nine other candidates to advance from the top-two primary on June 2. Kim received 26.8% of the vote and Allen 19.6%. Incumbent Ricardo Lara (D) is term-limited. The commissioner of insurance regulates the property and casualty insurance market.

This is the first time two Democrats have appeared in the general election for the office. The election is set against the backdrop of home insurance rates and recent wildfires. CalMatters' Levi Sumagaysay writes that wildfires "were a factor in insurance companies canceling homeowner policies or refusing to write new ones. ... Many survivors of last year’s Los Angeles County fires are struggling to rebuild; they have sued insurance companies."

The two candidates differ in how they would approach insurance policy changes in light of the wildfires. Allen proposes stabilizing the private insurance market by opposing insurers that deny and delay claims, ensuring post-disaster insurer compliance, and increasing the department's transparency and accountability. Allen's website says, "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."

Kim proposes a state-run natural disaster insurance for all. Kim's website says, "Jane plans to ... make sure premiums actually pay for claims, create a public option for affordable auto insurance ... enforce minimum coverage standards ... freeze the rates after you file a claim, penalize delays to speed up payments, make sure insurers pay disaster survivors immediately, launch market conduct examinations to hold bad actors accountable, and create a public insurer performance dashboard."

The California Democratic Party, Sens. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), and the Consumer Federation of California endorsed Allen. U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), the California Teachers Association, and the Working Families Party endorsed Kim. According to CalMatters, Democratic consultant Kevin Liao says, "[M]any voters don’t know exactly what the insurance commissioner does ... That could mean that voters will rely on shortcuts such as Sanders’ endorsement of Kim, or the California Democrats’ endorsement of Allen. The race could come down to whose brand will convince voters."

Allen has served as a state senator since 2014. He says as commissioner he would "demand transparency in rate filings, push back on increases that aren’t supported by the facts, and ensure insurers properly account for risk-reduction efforts." Allen says he wants to implement more fire mitigation measures and will "push for neighborhood-scale fire prevention and risk reduction programs that lower losses across entire communities and make it possible for insurers to responsibly write policies again."

Kim is an attorney and served as a San Francisco supervisor from 2011 to 2019. Kim's campaign website says her Natural Disaster Insurance for All plan "would address climate disaster instead of avoiding it. The private insurance business model is to avoid losses, not to reduce risk. ... A public insurer would invest in prevention and resiliency, and the public would benefit with fewer claims to pay out." Kim supports capping insurance executive pay, and says, "We can do a far better job reining in profiteering and price gouging, and it is essential to restoring trust and affordability."