January 8, 2019
Election season in 2018 brought four newly elected insurance commissioners in the following states; California, Georgia, Kansas and Oklahoma. Additionally, several influential insurance directors and commissioners announced their retirement in late 2018 and early 2019 creating changes in other states. These changes will likely have an impact on the direction of regulatory policy. Below is an outline of the changes that have occurred to the high levels of state insurance departments in the past few months.
California
In California, the race between Dave Jones, California's Insurance Commissioner since 2011, and Ricardo Lara was very close. Ricardo Lara beat out well-funded Jones and won the race. Lara was sworn in as the 8th elected California Insurance Commissioner on January 7, 2019.
Colorado
In December 2017, Colorado Insurance Commissioner Marguerite Salazar stepped down from her position as Commissioner in order to focus solely on her other position as Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies. Salazar announced that Michael Conway has been selected to serve as the Interim Commissioner of the Division of Insurance. Although the position of Interim Commissioner is temporary, Conway has recently received the full endorsement of the new Governor-elect Jared Polis for the permanent Insurance Commissioner position, and is now awaiting confirmation from the state Senate.
Georgia
Jim Beck defeated Janice Laws, an insurance industry veteran, in the 2018 election. Beck prioritizes fighting insurance fraud against the elderly and bringing stability to auto insurance rates. His swearing in date is January 14, 2019.
Hawaii
Catherine P. Awakuni Colón, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, has appointed Colin M. Hayashida as Hawaii's Insurance Commissioner, effective January 1, 2019. Hayashida assumes the position from previous Commissioner Gordon Ito, who will return to a role he previously played as chief deputy insurance commissioner.
Kansas
Vicki Schmidt is a state Senator turned Insurance Commissioner. She will be sworn in on January 14, 2019. With a background as a pharmacist, her campaign focused on health care issues.
Michigan
Anita Fox has been appointed as Michigan's Director of the Department of Insurance. Fox needs confirmation from the state Senate in order to serve as Director.
New York
As of February 1, 2019, Maria Vullo, superintendent of the New York Department of Financial Services. After three years of service Vullo announced her decision not to continue service on December 19, 2018. Her replacement has not yet been announced.
Oklahoma
Glen Mulready is the newly elected Commissioner for Oklahoma. He will be sworn in January 14th. He has chaired Oklahoma's House Insurance Committed, and was active at the National Conference of Insurance Legislators.
Tennessee
Governor-elect Bill Lee re-appointed Commissioner Julie Mix McPeak, who is expected to be asked to serve in a national policymaking role in 2019.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin Governor-Elect Tony Evers has named Mark Afable as Insurance Commissioner. Afable is replacing the current Commissioner of Insurance, Ted Nickel, who has served as Wisconsin's top insurance regulator since 2011.