New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has officially appointed Justin Zimmerman as Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance, following Senate confirmation on October 28.
Zimmerman had held the role of acting commissioner since June 2023, stepping in after Marlene Caride departed to join the New Jersey Superior Court.
In his role, Zimmerman will oversee New Jersey’s insurance market as well as the state’s health insurance marketplace, Get Covered New Jersey. He is also responsible for the state’s banking and real estate sectors, according to a statement from the insurance department.
As per AM Best, Zimmerman began his tenure with the department in January 2018 as chief of staff, where he led the executive management team and directed policy implementation under Caride.
His background includes work as chief of policy and legislation for the New Jersey Senate President Pro Tempore and experience as a briefing aide for Governor Jon Corzine, as well as a director role in legislative and intergovernmental affairs for the New Jersey Department of State.
Zimmerman’s swearing-in comes amid a period of change for insurance commissioner roles across several states. Following the November 5 elections, new commissioners will take office in Washington and Montana, while incumbent commissioners retained their seats in Delaware and North Carolina, and North Dakota’s commissioner was re-elected unopposed.
In Washington state, Democrat Patricia Kuderer won the insurance commissioner race with 57.2% of the vote. She will succeed Mike Kreidler, who announced in May 2023 that he would not seek reelection after six terms as commissioner.
In Montana, Republican James Brown won the state auditor and insurance commissioner position with 62% of the vote. His Democratic opponent, John Repke, received 38%. Brown replaces Troy Downing, who was recently elected to the US House of Representatives.
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