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

In the early returns from 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.

With roughly 55-57% of votes counted, progressive Democrat Jane Kim holds the lead at approximately 23-24%, while Allen trails closely with around 19-20%. Republican insurance agent Stacy Korsgaden sits in third place at about 17-18%, with the gap appearing to widen as more ballots are tallied. Other candidates, including Democrats Steven Bradford and Patrick Wolff, lag further behind.

California's nonpartisan top-two primary system means the top two finishers advance to November regardless of party. Barring a dramatic shift in late-counted 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.

A Santa Monica Rooted Leader

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

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.

Allen has earned endorsements from prominent figures, including U.S. Senators Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla, highlighting his appeal within the Democratic establishment.

What's Next

Results remain preliminary, with vote-by-mail and provisional ballots still being processed across the state. Official certification will come in the coming weeks, but current trends strongly favor Allen advancing.

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.

For the latest updates, voters can check the California Secretary of State's election results portal.