California, Georgia, Kansas, and Oklahoma are holding direct elections for state insurance commissioner this year. Republicans hold three of these offices, and Democrats hold one. In 32 states, the control of the insurance commission office will be decided indirectly, based on the results of the gubernatorial and state legislative elections. In those states, the governor or state legislature chooses the insurance commissioner.
All 50 states have an insurance commissioner, though the position is directly elected in only 11 states. Of all directly elected commissioners, Republicans hold eight, Democrats hold three, with the remaining 39 commissioners identified as nonpartisan.
The commissioner serves as the chief regulator of insurance markets in the state. The duties of the position vary from state to state, but their general role is as a consumer protection advocate and insurance regulator.
