The November 3, 2026, midterm elections will bring new leadership to several state insurance departments. In some states, the changes result from elected commissioner races. In others, the changes result indirectly from newly elected governors, who appoint the insurance commissioner, being from a different political party. Below is a snapshot of where things stand two days after Election Day. All results noted here are unofficial; states will certify them over the next several weeks.
Elected Commissioners: Four New Faces
The chief insurance regulators are elected in 11 states: California, Delaware, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana1, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and Washington. Four of those seats were on the 2026 midterm election ballot: California, Georgia, Kansas, and Oklahoma.
- Georgia. Democrat Keisha Sean Waites defeated Republican incumbent John King. Waites, a former state representative and Atlanta city councilwoman, has campaigned on a “rate freeze” initiative. Her platform also includes more aggressive review of auto and home rate increases, an end to ZIP code and credit score discrimination, and a consumer fraud strike force. Georgia also flipped at the top of the ticket: former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms (Democrat) won the governorship, so Democrats will hold both the governor’s office and the insurance commissioner’s seat.
- Oklahoma. Bob Sullivan (Republican) will succeed Glen Mulready (Republican), who is term limited. Sullivan, a property and casualty insurance professional, campaigned on lowering rates and restoring market competition.
- Kansas. Dan Hawkins (Republican), speaker of the Kansas House and an insurance professional since 1995, was reported as the winner over Dinah Sykes (Democrat). He succeeds Vicki Schmidt (Republican), who made an unsuccessful run for governor instead of seeking reelection. Hawkins campaigned on a more competitive, lighter-touch regulatory environment, while also pledging to pursue insurers that do not follow the law.
- California. Two Democrats are competing to succeed Ricardo Lara, who is term-limited, so the seat will stay in Democratic hands. As of Wednesday evening, Jane Kim led state Sen. Ben Allen 52.2% to 47.8%, and the race had not been called. The two candidates offer sharply different approaches. Kim has proposed a statewide public pool for natural disaster coverage. Allen has emphasized stabilizing and restoring competition in the private market.
Governor Flips: New Appointing Authorities in Four States
Based on unofficial results, Democrats flipped five Republican-held governorships: Georgia, Iowa, Nevada, Ohio, and Texas. Georgia’s commissioner is elected, as discussed above. In the other four states, the chief insurance regulator is appointed, directly or indirectly, so the new governors could bring in new leadership. As of this writing, none of the governors-elect has publicly named a pick for insurance regulator.
| State | Governor-elect | Current chief insurance regulator |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | Gina Hinojosa (D) | Commissioner Amanda Crawford |
| Ohio | Amy Acton (D) | Director Judith L. French |
| Nevada | Aaron Ford (D) | Commissioner Ned Gaines |
| Iowa | Rob Sand (D) | Commissioner Doug Ommen |
Two governor’s races were still formally uncalled as of November 5. In Alaska, Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins led the preliminary ranked-choice tally to succeed Mike Dunleavy (Republican); some outlets have projected him the winner, but mail ballots are still being counted through November 18 before the ranked-choice tabulation is finalized. Alaska’s director of insurance, Heather Carpenter, was appointed by the commissioner of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development. In Kansas, Democrat Cindy Holscher held a narrow lead over Republican Ty Masterson. Kansas was Democratic held going into the election, so a Holscher win would not be a flip. Kansas elects its commissioner, so that race does not affect insurance department leadership.
Beyond the Ballot: Leadership Change in Colorado
Not every change on the horizon is tied to Election Day. Colorado Insurance Commissioner Michael Conway has announced that he will step down beginning in 2027. Colorado’s commissioner is appointed by the governor, and Governor Jared Polis is term-limited, so the choice of a successor is expected to fall to the incoming administration. Companies active in Colorado may want to watch for an announcement on interim leadership or a permanent replacement early in the new year.
What This Means for the Industry
Affordability and availability of personal lines coverage were central themes in nearly every one of these races. Insurers and other industry participants should expect incoming regulators, particularly in Georgia and California, to take a close look at rate filings, underwriting factors, and claims practices. Companies with pending rate or form filings, or market conduct matters, in affected states may want to watch transition announcements closely and plan for possible changes in regulatory priorities and personnel. We will continue to track these developments and provide updates as appointments are announced and results are certified.
1 In Montana, the elected state auditor serves as commissioner.
Recent Comments