Ben Allen
- Senate: 2014-present
News coverage of Ben Allen
Bio
Ben Allen, 46, authored the legislation behind California’s regulations that discourage the use of plastic straws and other single-serving plastic utensils. It was one of several pieces of environmental legislation that Allen authored since being elected in 2014. Previously, he was president of the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board of Education, a lecturer at UCLA Law School, worked as an attorney and was communications director for U.S. Rep. Jose Serrano, a Democrat from New York. He has a bachelor’s from Harvard University; a master’s from University of Cambridge and a law degree from UC Berkeley. He’s married with a son and a daughter.
Leader Badges
Ideology
Left
Moderate
Right
Bill Activity
0
Of 55 bills:For this session year, this legislator initiated 55 bills: 20 passed, 7 failed, and 28 are currently pending.
Alignment Meter
See all-time percentage of this legislator’s alignment with any organization based on total votes.
Financials
This feature tracks three sources of money intended to help a candidate win election: 1-Money given directly to a candidate’s committee, 2-Money given to an Independent Expenditure Committee, 3-Money given to a political party. (NOTE: Senators are elected every four years. Twenty of the 40 Senators are on the ballot in even-numbered years, so Senators may do little or no fundraising in the first two-year session of their Senate term).
Election
This display shows money given directly to the incumbent’s campaign committee (NOTE: The industry categories for donors come from Open Secrets, a nonpartisan research organization for campaign finance. Some contributions are “uncoded,” meaning they have not been assigned to an industry sector. As a result, the total for each sector is also an estimate).
Agriculture
Candidate Contributions
Communications & Electronics
Bauwesen
Defense
Energy & Natural Resources
Finance, Insurance & Real Estate
General Business
Government Agencies/Education/Other
Health
Ideology/Single Issue
Labor
Lawyers & Lobbyists
Transport
Uncoded
Unitemized Contributions
Candidate Donations
Individuals, corporations, organizations and committees are limited to a maximum donation to candidates of $5,500 for the primary and for the general elections.
7.0% lower than the average legislators
Party Committees
This is independent expenditure money spent by political parties for advertising, grassroots mobilization or other activities targeting this candidate. Separately, political parties can give an unlimited amount of money directly to a candidate's campaign committee. Digital Democracy tallies that money under "candidate donations".
91.0% lower than the average legislators
Independent Expenditures
Money from Independent Expenditure Committees (IEC) for advertising or grassroots activity to help a candidate win office is unlimited, but it cannot be spent in coordination with the candidate or the candidate's campaign.
100.0% lower than the average legislators
Grand Total for Elections
30.0% lower than the average legislators
This is a total of the money to help this legislator win office including direct donations to the candidate, money from Independent Expenditure Committees and money from political parties.
Influence
There are three categories of donations to legislators after they are elected that encourage a working relationship between the donor and the legislator. The three categories are: 1-Gifts, 2-Travel, 3-Behests.
Giver | Value | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| California Jewish Legislative Caucus Leadership Foundation | $225.87 | Feb 13, 2020 | Dinner (Caucus Retreat) |
| California Jewish Legislative Caucus Leadership Foundation | $220.5 | Dec 20, 2020 | Dinner (Hanukkah Party) |
| California International Relations Foundation | $155.8 | Jan 15, 2020 | Dinner; Japanese Legislators |
| Sierra Health Foundation | $142.22 | Feb 4, 2020 | Food, Drink, Services (Senate Caucus Policy Retreat) |
| California Science Center Foundation | $130 | Mar 7, 2020 | 2020 Discovery Ball |
| Rendon for Assembly 2020 | $113.08 | Jan 23, 2020 | Gift Basket |
| California Democratic Party | $94.88 | Feb 4, 2020 | Bowling & Food |
| California Democratic Party | $64.52 | Dec 6, 2020 | Dinner (Incoming Senate Members - Virtual) |
| Atkins for Senate 2020 | $54.42 | Dec 6, 2020 | Gift Bag |
| California Democratic Party | $48.49 | Dec 6, 2020 | Gift Bag |
Personal Gifts
Legislators are not allowed to accept gifts of more than $10 per month from registered lobbyists. Gifts from any other single source are limited to $590 in a calendar year.
Gift Received Rating
This legislator is ranked 1st highest for the amount of personal gifts received.
Policy
Bills Authored by Ben Allen
Committee: Senate Standing Committee on Judiciary
Committee: Senate Standing Committee on Environmental Quality
Committee: Senate Standing Committee on Judiciary
Committees
Most of the policy work in the state Capitol is done in “Standing” committees. Legislators also work on budget subcommittees. There are also “Special” and “Select” committees with a more narrow topic focus. And there are “Joint” committees with members from the Senate and Assembly.
Senate Standing Committee on Environmental Quality
Senate Standing Committee on Elections and Constitutional Amendments
Senate Standing Committee on Judiciary
Senate Standing Committee on Natural Resources and Water
Senate Standing Committee on Transportation
Interest Group Rankings
Generally Aligned
Hearings
Featured Comments
Below are links to the video and transcript of recent, substantive comments by this legislator in committee hearings or floor sessions.
District
Previous Election:
Party Registration
Key
District
State
Census Data
Median age