Best’s News & Research Service - December 11, 2023 04:37 PM (EST)
North Carolina State Senator Running for Insurance Commissioner
DAVIDSON, N.C. //BestWire// - The race for insurance commissioner is on in North Carolina as Democratic state Sen. Natasha Marcus announced she will be running for the seat held by Republican Mike Causey.
She said she is running against corruption, corporate greed and bad government.
Marcus called out Causey as an industry “insider” whose term has been marked by scandal, unprecedented rate hikes and poor judgment.
Causey has been tied up in the criminal and civil affairs involving Greg Lindberg, the insurance mogul who is being retried next year on charges that he attempted to bribe Causey. Lindberg’s companies have been liquidated or put in rehabilitation by Causey’s office. Causey also had to rehire officials he had fired after the legislature stripped the duties of fire marshal from the commissioner’s position.
In addition, he opposed a restructuring of the state’s largest health insurer, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, that had strong support of the legislature and Gov. Roy Cooper (BestWire, March 23, 2023).
An attempt to obtain comment from Causey was not immediately successful.
“The job of insurance commissioner touches almost every North Carolinian and should be held by someone who is on the side of the people,” she said in a statement. “In the state Senate, I’ve been a consistent champion for people over corporations, for individual freedoms over ideology, and for smart investments in our state’s future.”
Marcus, who is being gerrymandered out of her seat in a redistricting effort led by Republicans, said she cares about North Carolinians who need affordable, reliable insurance coverage.
“Commissioner of Insurance is a Council of State position that allows me to look out for everyone in North Carolina who buys insurance — to ensure rates are fair, coverage is as-advertised, and valid claims are paid,” she said.
The Republican and Democratic primaries in North Carolina will be held March 5.
(By Timothy Darragh, senior associate editor, BestWire: Timothy.Darragh@ambest.com)