Ben Allen Seems Poised to Advance to the November Runoffs For Insurance Commissioner

6.4.26: With the majority of votes now counted in California's June 2, 2026, top-two primary for Insurance Commissioner, State Senator Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica) has solidified a strong second-place position, positioning him to advance to the November general election.

Latest results (as of early June 4 reporting, with most precincts partially or fully reporting):

Jane Kim (D, progressive/Working Families Party): 23.8% (~1,140,336 votes)

Ben Allen (D): 19.2% (~920,814 votes)

Stacy Korsgaden (R): 17.4% (~833,224 votes)

Other candidates (including Patrick Wolff, Robert Howell, Merritt Farren, Steven Bradford, and others) trail further behind at 8.7% or lower.

California's nonpartisan top-two primary system advances the top two finishers to November regardless of party. Barring a dramatic late shift (unlikely given the trends and remaining ballots), Allen and Kim are on track to face off in the general election — potentially shutting Republicans out of the contest for this key regulatory office for the first time.

Ben is currently California State Senator representing Santa Monica and the Westside.

A Santa Monica Rooted Leader

Ben Allen, who represents California's 24th State Senate District — encompassing Santa Monica, the Westside, Hollywood, South Bay, and Santa Monica Mountains communities — brings deep local ties and extensive public service experience to the race.

A Santa Monica native and graduate of santa monica high school, Allen previously served as a member and president of the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) Board of Education from 2008 to 2014. During his tenure on the school board, he focused on environmental sustainability, financial accountability, and community engagement, helping guide a major facilities bond measure.

Elected to the State Senate in 2014, Allen has built a legislative record emphasizing consumer protection, wildfire prevention, climate resilience, and holding insurance companies accountable. As he approaches the end of his legislative term, his campaign for Insurance Commissioner has centered on protecting consumers amid California's ongoing insurance crisis, particularly in the wake of devastating wildfires.

Results remain unofficial, with some vote-by-mail and provisional ballots still being processed. Official certification will come in the coming weeks, but current trends strongly favor Allen advancing alongside Jane Kim.

The November matchup between Allen and Kim would offer voters a clear choice between two Democrats with differing emphases — Kim's progressive, working-families focus versus Allen's experienced, consumer-protection-oriented approach rooted in legislative and local governance experience.