The jobs of more than half of state insurance commissioners around the country could be on the line tomorrow. The results of the 2006 midterm elections is definitely going to have an impact on the insurance industry. The emerging winners from as many as 30 different state elections for governor, insurance commissioner, congressional seats and attorney general spots may result in big changes of state insurance commissioners either because they are directly elected or because appointments are controlled or influenced by the governor.
The greatest change may be in the Midwest states. It is safe to assume that not all of these commissioners will be outright replaced, as many incumbent governors will be re-elected and continue with their same insurance commissioners and chief officers. It is however safe to say, the most likely changes for stat insurance departments will happen in states where new governor’s are elected from the “other” political party.
Currently, Republicans control 28 governorships and the Democrats’ 22. Election polling indicates that Democrats are likely to increase the number. The latest polls show that at least five Republican governors, including Colorado, Massachusetts, New York, Arkansas, and Ohio are at risk. Democrats also appear to have a fair chance of unseating Republicans in Maryland and Minnesota. Republicans have a good shot at unseating Democrats in the states Wisconsin, Oregon and Michigan.
There are 11 states that elect their insurance commissioners and four of these states vote tomorrow. Elections for insurance commissioners in California, Georgia, Kansas and Oklahoma. The Republican Incumbent Louisiana Commissioner Jim Donelon, won a special election on Sept. 30.
With 36 gubernatorial races 26 state insurance regulator’s jobs are in some way controlled by the governor. These states and their current commissioners are:
- Alaska–Linda Hall
- Alabama–Walter Bell
- Arkansas–Julie Benafield Bowman
- Colorado–David Rivera
- Connecticut–Susan Cogswell
- Florida–Kevin McCarty
- Iowa–Susan Voss
- Idaho–Shad Priest
- Illinois–Michael McRaith
- Massachusetts–Julianne Bowler
- Maryland–R. Steven Orr
- Maine–Alessandro Iuppa
- Michigan–Linda Watters
- Minnesota–Glenn Wilson
- Nebraska–Tim Wagner
- New York–Howard Mills
- Ohio–Ann Womer Benjamin
- Pennsylvania–Diane Koken
- Rhode Island–Joseph Torti
- South Carolina–Eleanor Kitzman
- South Dakota–Merle Scheiber
- Tennessee–Paul Flowers
- Texas–Mike Geeslin
- Vermont–John Crowley
- Wisconsin–Jorge Gomez, and
- Wyoming–Ken Vines
Florida, appoints their insurance commissioner by a panel of four state officers, three of whom including the governor face voters tomorrow.
Which party wins or loses isn’t as important an issue as the fact that sweeping change of state insurance commissioner’s may spell sweeping change to the insurance industry overall.
Related Blog:
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