Best’s News & Research Service - November 06, 2024 03:48 PM (EST)
Insurance Commissioners Reign in East; Two Western States Elect New Regulators
OLDWICK, N.J. //BestWire// - Washington and Montana are getting new insurance commissioners following the Nov. 5 elections, while incumbents in North Carolina and Delaware won reelection and North Dakota’s commissioner will also continue in his role after running unopposed.
Democrat candidate Patricia “Patty” Kuderer won the Washington commissioner race with 57.2% of the vote, according to Ballotpedia.org.
Kuderer is replacing Mike Kreidler, who announced in May 2023 that he would not seek reelection after serving six terms as insurance commissioner (BestWire, May 1, 2023).
Kuderer’s Republican opponent Phil Fortunato, who pulled in 42.7% of the vote, said in an emailed statement it is “tough to break the 58% base Democrat vote” in the state.
"I am deeply honored by the trust Washingtonians have placed in me,” Kuderer said in an emailed statement. “This victory is for everyone who believes that our insurance system should work for people, not profit margins. Together we'll ensure fair, transparent policies that give Washington families the security they deserve."
Her priorities as commissioner will be addressing rising insurance costs, increasing competition within the market, strengthening consumer protections and expanding access to essential healthcare and disaster coverage.
Republican candidate James Brown won Montana’s state auditor and insurance commissioner election, pulling in in 62% of the vote, according to the New York Times. John Repke, his Democrat opponent, garnered 38% of votes.
In a statement, Brown said he was humbled by the high level of support he received, adding: “Montanans chose to have a rendezvous with destiny, a destiny guided by the small government principles of the Republican Party to keep our Montana, Montana.”
Brown is replacing Troy Downing, who was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in the general election.
Repke said Brown’s election highlights the need for the state auditor position to be non-partisan. He said candidates are currently incentivized to run on issues unrelated to insurance, such as immigration and boarder security, rather than their qualifications.
“As a result, the state gets a politician with plenty of competing agendas rather than a competent regulator,” Repke said in an emailed statement. “This works to the disadvantage of the citizens of the state, but as long as there is party affiliation on the ballot, this is how it is.”
North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey, a Republican, won reelection with 52.1% of the vote, according to Ballotpedia. His Democrat opponent Natasha Marcus received 47.9% of votes.
Causey, who was first elected to the role in 2016, said he has a long track record of working with insurance companies while also being a strong consumer advocate.
Marcus congratulated Causey in statement, adding the commissioner role is both demanding and critically important.
“We ran a strong, honest, grassroots campaign and brought the concerns of many North Carolinians to light,” Marcus said. “We came close to a win. I am proud of that work and hope it will prompt positive changes at the Department of Insurance because the people of our state deserve reliable, affordable insurance coverage.”
Attempt to gain further comment from Causey was unsuccessful.
Delaware’s incumbent commissioner Trinidad Navarro, a Democrat, also won reelection, garnering 58.5% of votes compared with 41.5% for his Republican opponent Ralph Taylor.
After a resounding primary win, in which he pulled 74% of votes, Navarro told BestWire voters appreciate his experience in the role (BestWire, Sept. 11, 2024). He was first elected to the position in 2016 and won reelection in 2020.
Attempts to gain further comment from Navarro and Taylor were unsuccessful.
North Dakota Insurance Commissioner Jon Godfread pulled in 98.22% of votes in his unopposed reelection campaign. Godfread also ran unopposed in 2020 after his Democrat opponent was removed from the ballot after failing to meet the state’s candidate residency requirements.
“As we navigate the complexities of evolving regulations and technological advancements, it’s important to have a leader who not only understands these challenges and is at the forefront of crafting innovative solutions,” Godfread said in a statement when announcing his reelection bid.
(By Steve Hallo, senior associate editor, BestWire: Steve.Hallo@ambest.com)