California insurance Commissioner race remains tight as Kim leads Allen

With roughly 52% of the votes counted, Kim had secured 3,426,499 votes, representing 52%, compared to Allen’s 3,168,467 votes, or 48%, according to the California Secretary of State. The contest between the two Democratic candidates was the closest statewide race on Tuesday’s ballot.

The position is open as outgoing Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara’s term concludes in December. Kim, a progressive former San Francisco supervisor, advanced from the June primary, facing off against Allen, considered more moderate.

Kim expressed confidence in her campaign’s standing, stating, “It’s an incredible honor to have received so much support from every corner of the state.” She added, “There has never been a statewide campaign like this one in California, and we are so proud of the race we ran.”

Allen urged patience as ballots are processed, emphasizing the importance of every vote. He had a financial advantage, raising $2.3 million in contributions compared to Kim’s $1.3 million. Allen’s motivation for entering the race stemmed from the devastation caused by the January 2025 Palisades Fire in his Senate district, as he stated, “My work doesn’t stop. Every day, I’ll be fighting for those families.”

Both candidates addressed concerns about California’s struggling insurance market, but proposed contrasting solutions. Kim advocates for a “Natural Disaster Insurance for All” program, a single-payer system to cover disaster losses. Critics, including former primary candidate Patrick Wolff, have warned that this proposal could place California taxpayers at risk of “untold billions.” Allen, conversely, focuses on reforming the existing private insurance market, including expediting rate approvals and strengthening home-hardening standards.

Allen received endorsements from the California Democratic Party, U.S. Sens. Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff, and consumer advocacy groups. Kim secured backing from U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, the Working Families Party, and California Young Democrats. Labor support was divided, with the California Teachers Association and California Nurses Association supporting Kim, while the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California endorsed Allen.

Outside political action committees spent at least $6.5 million promoting Allen or opposing Kim, while groups supporting Kim spent approximately $4.4 million.