14 New Insurance Commissioners Since Nov. 2, 2010; 11 More Expected in 2011

As of January 25, 2011, 14 new Insurance Commissioners took office since Election Day 2010. Up to 11 additional new Insurance Commissioners are expected in 2011.

More new Insurance Commissioners will take office following the recent elections than in the last election/appointment cycle. For instance, a total of 23 are anticipated in 2011. Colorado and Connecticut have new Acting Commissioners since November 2, 2010, but these appointments may change again in 2011. Eleven new Commissioners took office at some point in 2009 and 23 in 2007. The average term of office for an Insurance Commissioner (whether elected, appointed and confirmed, or interim/acting) is approximately 3 years and 5 months since 1980, according to an analysis of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Proceedings Summer 2010 Commissioner Tenure List data.

State Insurance Commissioners will have significant input with respect to the implementation of the federal health reform law and other public policy issues during 2011. Changes in the chief insurance regulator positions in a state likely will impact that state's ability to comply with upcoming federal deadlines.

The 14 new Insurance Commissioners since Election Day 2010 include:

State Incoming Insurance Commissioner Outgoing Insurance Commissioner California

Dave Jones

Steve Poizner

Colorado

John Postolowski (Interim)

Marcy Morrison

Connecticut

Barbara C. Spear (Acting)

Thomas R. Sullivan

Georgia

Ralph Hudgens

John W. Oxendine

Minnesota

Mike Rothman

Glenn Wilson

Nebraska

Bruce R. Ramge

Ann M. Frohman

Ohio

Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor

Mary Jo Hudson

Oklahoma

John Doak

Kim Holland

Pennsylvania

Michael Consedine

Joel Ario / Robert L. Pratter (Acting)

South Carolina

David Black

Scott H. Richardson

Tennessee

Julie Mix McPeak

Leslie A. Newman

Vermont

Steve Kimbell

Michael S. Bertrand

Virginia

Jacqueline K. Cunningham

Alfred W. Gross

Wisconsin

Ted Nickel

Sean Dilweg

A comprehensive list of the 50 State Insurance Commissioners can be viewed here. The 11 other possible new Insurance Commissioners anticipated in 2011 are from the states noted in red type.

Only 11 states elect their Insurance Commissioner, and only four of these states had elections in 2010 (California, Georgia, Kansas, and Oklahoma). Kansas retained its incumbent, Sandy Praeger, who ran unopposed in the general election. Each of the other three states voted in new Commissioners.

Of the 11 other states where a newly appointed Insurance Commissioner is...