Jane Kim will be California’s next insurance commissioner. What it means for your home insurance

Updated November 9, 2026. The race for California insurance commissioner is over. Former San Francisco Supervisor Jane Kim beat state Sen. Ben Allen, and she takes over the Department of Insurance in January. Her signature idea, a public wildfire insurance program, would be a big change. But nothing about your current policy, your rate, or your next renewal changed on election night. Here is what happened, what Kim has proposed, what the industry is saying, and what California homeowners and FAIR Plan policyholders should do now.

What happened

Kim declared victory on Friday, November 6. Allen called her that day to congratulate her. "Jane ran a strong race, and it appears that she has won," he said in a statement reported by KCRA and the Los Angeles Times.
The Associated Press called the race Saturday night. According to CalMatters, with 75% of ballots counted Kim had more than 53% of the vote to Allen’s almost 47%.
She takes office in January. Kim replaces term-limited Commissioner Ricardo Lara, as reported by The Stanford Daily. CalMatters notes she will be the first woman and the first Asian American to hold the job since it became an elected office in 1988.

What Kim has proposed

Kim campaigned on what she calls "Natural Disaster Insurance for All": a state-run, nonprofit program that would take wildfire coverage out of private homeowners policies, as described by ABC7 and The Stanford Daily. Private insurers would keep covering other claims.

How it would work, per her policy brief. Insurance Business summarized the brief as focused on wildfire coverage for existing homes, with mandatory participation, premiums that reflect each property’s risk, and private insurers administering coverage for a fee while the public program holds the risk.
Coverage would be capped. The Los Angeles Times reported that the brief caps coverage at the replacement cost to fully rebuild a typical California home, so more expensive homes would still need additional private wildfire insurance.
Claims and accountability. Kim has also called for penalties on insurers that delay claims and more transparency about how claims are handled, according to The Stanford Daily.
It is not law. The Los Angeles Times reported the plan would require buy-in from Gov.-elect Xavier Becerra, the Legislature and the industry. CalMatters reported that Kim knows it is a tough, long-term goal. Insurance Business put it plainly: it is a proposal, not an operating alternative for renewals.

What the industry and consumer groups are saying

The American Property Casualty Insurance Association congratulated Kim and said it looks forward to working with her. Its Denni Ritter added, in a statement quoted by Insurance Journal, that "recent reforms are beginning to stabilize the market" but "the insurance crisis is far from over."

Before the race was called, the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of California told Insurance Business that many insurers may be waiting on the outcome to decide whether to return to the California property market, and that a new state fund would add uncertainty while details are worked out. The group also said it supports moving policies off the FAIR Plan, as long as consumers keep access to a broker’s advice when comparing replacement coverage.

On the consumer side, Consumer Watchdog president Jamie Court told CalMatters Kim’s approach "will act as a check on prices," while also warning about the risk a public plan could put on the state. Rex Frazier of the Personal Insurance Federation of California raised questions such as whether taxpayers would backstop it and what happens if it runs out of money.

What does not change today

Your policy and rate. An election does not rewrite an existing policy or a rate already approved. Commissioner Lara remains in office until Kim is sworn in.
State Farm and Allstate are still not open. On September 18, the Department of Insurance said both companies had filed to resume new homeowners business, and that "these companies are not open for new business yet." As of November 9, 2026, we have seen no public notice that either filing was approved. We covered that in our November 6 post.
Pending fire-claim actions continue. CalMatters reported the Department has pending actions against State Farm and the FAIR Plan over their handling of Eaton and Palisades fire claims.
Other insurers are still writing. The Department has said more than a dozen insurance groups committed to stay and grow in California, and it tells consumers to talk to an agent or broker about admitted options before turning to the FAIR Plan.

What to do before your next renewal

Do not wait for a public wildfire program. Any new state program would need legislation and time to build. Buy the best coverage you can get now, and revisit it every renewal.
Shop early. Start 60 to 90 days before your renewal date so there is time to compare admitted, surplus lines and FAIR Plan options. Our high fire risk home insurance guide explains how each option works.
On the FAIR Plan? Check for a way off every year. If the FAIR Plan is still your best fire option, pair it with a difference in conditions (DIC) policy. See our California FAIR Plan guide and FAIR Plan and DIC guide.
Document your wildfire mitigation. Roof, vents, defensible space and IBHS Wildfire Prepared Home work can matter for both pricing and eligibility. Keep photos and receipts. See our wildfire mitigation discounts guide.
Check your dwelling limit. Make sure Coverage A reflects what it would really cost to rebuild today, and ask about extended replacement cost. That matters under any program, especially if your home is above the typical rebuild cost.
Never let coverage lapse. Line up the new policy before you cancel the old one, especially if you have a mortgage. If you got a nonrenewal notice, see our nonrenewal guide.

Why an independent broker helps when the rules may change

A new commissioner can shift the market over the next few years, and carriers may move in different directions at different speeds. An independent broker is not tied to one company. We can compare the admitted carriers that are open for your property, surplus lines options, and the FAIR Plan with DIC, and recheck them as rules and carrier appetites change. More reading: home insurance and which insurers are writing again.

FAQ: California’s new insurance commissioner

When does Jane Kim take office?

In January 2027, replacing term-limited Commissioner Ricardo Lara. Until then, Lara leads the Department of Insurance.

Will my homeowners premium change because of the election?

Not by itself. Rates in California change through filings reviewed by the Department under Proposition 103. The election does not change a policy or rate already in place.

Is the public wildfire insurance program available now?

No. It is a campaign proposal. Reporting from the Los Angeles Times and CalMatters says it would need the Legislature and the governor to sign on. Keep buying wildfire coverage through the options available today.

Should I stay on the FAIR Plan and wait to see what happens?

No. Shop at every renewal. If a private admitted or surplus lines policy is available and fits your home, it is usually broader than FAIR Plan fire coverage alone.

Are State Farm and Allstate writing new homeowners policies yet?

Not as of November 9, 2026. Both filings were still under Department review, and we have seen no public notice of approval.

Does this affect business or landlord insurance?

The commissioner’s office regulates home, auto, workers’ compensation and other insurers, so policy changes could reach other lines over time. For now, landlord and commercial property renewals work the same way. See our commercial property insurance page.

Need a California home insurance quote? Let ESI shop it

ESI Insurance Brokers (Express Service Insurance Agency, Inc. dba ESI Insurance Brokers) is an independent California broker at 2085 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94109. We quote admitted and surplus lines carriers and can compare private options with FAIR Plan and DIC before your renewal.

Get a California insurance quote → On the quote page, click the Homeowners Insurance option. For a rental property, click Landlord Insurance; for a business building, click Commercial Property Insurance.

Or call (415) 440-5136 · CA LIC# 0G83954 · broker@insurance415.com

Sources

This article is general information, not legal advice or a coverage determination. Your policy terms control, and carrier availability and eligibility rules change often. Ask your broker how this applies to your property.