Newly elected insurance commissioners in Washington and Montana will assume office following the Nov. 5 elections, while incumbents in North Carolina and Delaware retained their positions, and North Dakota’s commissioner will continue in his role after running 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 a report from AM Best, Kuderer stated that she is “deeply honored by the trust Washingtonians have placed in me,” noting her focus on an insurance system that prioritizes people over profit. Her stated goals as commissioner include addressing rising insurance costs, boosting competition, strengthening consumer protections, and expanding access to healthcare and disaster coverage.
In Montana, Republican James Brown won the state auditor and insurance commissioner position with 62% of the vote, according to the New York Times. His Democratic opponent, John Repke, received 38%. Brown replaces Troy Downing, who was recently elected to the US House of Representatives. Brown expressed gratitude for the support he received, citing Montana’s commitment to “small government principles.”
Repke commented on the need for a non-partisan state auditor position, suggesting that current partisan affiliations lead candidates to focus on issues unrelated to insurance, which he said can undermine the role’s regulatory effectiveness.
In North Carolina, incumbent Commissioner Mike Causey, a Republican, won reelection with 52.1% of the vote, while his Democratic opponent Natasha Marcus received 47.9%.
Causey, who has held the position since 2016, emphasized his record of working with insurers and advocating for consumers. Marcus, in her concession, congratulated Causey and highlighted the importance of the commissioner’s role in ensuring accessible and affordable insurance coverage.
Delaware’s Commissioner Trinidad Navarro, a Democrat, also won reelection, securing 58.5% of the vote over his Republican opponent Ralph Taylor, who received 41.5%. Navarro, who has served since 2016 and was reelected in 2020, emphasized his experience and commitment to the role following a strong primary win earlier in the year.
North Dakota’s Commissioner Jon Godfread won his reelection campaign with 98.22% of votes after running unopposed.
Godfread, who also ran unopposed in 2020, expressed his commitment to navigating evolving regulations and technological advancements, highlighting his focus on crafting “innovative solutions” for the state’s insurance landscape.
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