Three candidates are pulling ahead in California’s primary election for insurance commissioner. The outcome, however, remains uncertain as counties continue counting ballots weeks after voting closed.
Jane Kim leads the field with 24.3% of the vote as of June 5. State Sen. Ben Allen follows at 19.4% and insurance professional Stacy Korsgaden at 17.2%, according to unofficial results from the California Secretary of State. State law requires results to be certified by July 10.
The race drew more than a dozen candidates in total, including legislators, insurance professionals, and a public school teacher.
It is also playing out as the state’s ethics watchdog reviews allegations against outgoing Commissioner Ricardo Lara. The review centers on whether taxpayer dollars funded dozens of international trips with unclear business justifications.
Kim, a former San Francisco supervisor, held that role from 2011 to 2019. She then became political director for Sen. Bernie Sanders’ 2020 presidential campaign. She has since worked as California director for the Working Families Party and holds senior fellow positions at the Sanders Institute and Young Elected Officials Network.
Her campaign centers on holding insurers accountable, lowering costs, and keeping coverage available. Endorsers include Sanders, California Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, State Controller Malia Cohen, and Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee.
Allen, a Democrat representing District 24, drew 41.69% at the California Democrat Convention earlier this year. His platform focuses on balancing consumer protections with insurer sustainability and improving post-disaster claims responses.
He also wants to increase transparency at the California Department of Insurance and depopulate the state’s FAIR Plan. US Senators Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla are among his endorsers, along with state Senate and Assembly leadership.
Korsgaden, the Republican in the race, brings more than 30 years of experience as an insurance professional and financial adviser.
Her priorities include increasing carrier competition, shortening rate approval timelines, championing premium tax credits, and strengthening home-hardening standards. Endorsements come from state senators, county supervisors, district attorneys, and local mayors.
The top two vote-getters will advance to the general election on Nov. 3. They will compete to succeed Lara, who is term limited.
Whoever wins will step into a market under considerable strain. California’s FAIR Plan saw enrollment jump 43% between September 2024 and December 2025.
A Bloomberg analysis found that 28% of the plan’s total exposure now sits in largely urban, lower-fire-risk zones. This points to carrier pullbacks spreading well beyond wildfire-prone areas.
The incoming commissioner will also inherit unresolved disputes with major carriers. In May 2026, Lara’s office sued to revoke State Farm’s license. The department sought what it called the largest penalties pursued after a wildfire disaster this century, citing delayed and underpaid claims from the January 2025 Palisades and Eaton fires.
As of June 5, 48,914 ballots remained to be cured statewide. The Secretary of State’s office said full processing typically takes several weeks.
