Last week's election results for state gubernatorial races across the nation are likely to radically change the complexion of the state insurance regulatory system, with commissioner positions hinging on the actions of newly elected governors.
Only 11 states have elected commissioners, and only three of those seats were contested last Tuesday.
Sandy Praeger faced no opposition and will stay as insurance commissioner in Kansas. The only other incumbent running in a commissioner's race–Democrat Kim Holland in Oklahoma, the vice president of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners–lost to Republican challenger John Doak.
In all other states, insurance commissioners are appointed by the governor, and of the states that do not elect commissioners there will be new governors in two dozen states due to either term limits or because incumbents are not seeking re-election. (See accompanying graphic for details of some of these races.)
Incumbents ran for re-election in 14 states: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Ohio, Texas and Utah.
New commissioners will be appointed whatever the outcome of the race for governor in Nebraska and Virginia due to resignations. Connecticut Commissioner Thomas M. Sullivan also recently announced his resignation.
Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty was surely watching the race for governor and the election for Florida chief financial officer, which has oversight of the Office of Insurance Regulation.
NAIC President and Iowa Insurance Commissioner Susan E. Voss could be headed out as incumbent Gov. Chet Culver, D, lost his re-election bid.
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