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November 05, 2008 at 07:09 AM
The elections held Tuesday included votes on 5 open insurance commissioner seats, 11 gubernatorial seats, and races involving many state lawmakers who sit on state legislature insurance and financial services committees.
Democrats appear to have won at least 4 of the 5 commissioner seats, but Republicans have won at least 4 of the open seats involving state, commonwealth and territory governors who have the right to appoint insurance commissioners.
We are still digesting results for state lawmakers, but 3 state legislators who hold top positions at the National Conference of Insurance Legislators, Troy, N.Y., kept their seats.
COMMISSIONERS
- Delaware
Democrat Karen Weldin beat Republican John Brady with 57.5% of the total vote.
- North Carolina
Wayne Goodwin, D, edged out John Odom, R, with 51.5% of the vote. Odom received 44.6% of the vote, and Libertarian Mark McMains received 3.8% of the vote.
Goodwin will succeed Jim Long, the longest-serving insurance commissioner in the United States. Long, who announced that he would not run for re-election has held the North Carolina commissioner post for 23 years and 6 terms.
- North Dakota
In this squeaker, Adam Hamm, R, the incumbent, now has 150,710 votes, or 50.3% of the votes cast, and Jasper Schneider, D, has 148,929 votes, or 49.7% of the votes cast.
North Dakota election officials note that Schneider has the right to ask for a recount.
- Montana
Duane Grimes, R, and Monica Lindeen, D, were vying to succeed John Morrison, the current state auditor, who is leaving office because of term limits.
Montana newspapers are reporting that Lindeen is leading with 53% of the vote, with 87% of voting precincts reporting.
- Washington
Incumbent Mike Kreidler, D, won handily, with 61% of the vote. He defeated John Adams, R.
GOVERNORS
Governors’ seats were up for grabs in Delaware, Indiana, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, New Hampshire, Utah, Vermont, Washington and West Virginia.
In Indiana, Missouri, New Hampshire, Utah, Vermont and West Virginia, the governor appoints the insurance commissioner:
The territory of American Samoa and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico also are holding gubernatorial elections, and the governors in those jurisdictions appoint the insurance commissioners.
Here is a look at races involving governors who can appoint commissioners:
- Indiana
Gov. Mitch Daniels, R, the incumbent, received 62% of the vote. Jill Thompson, D, received 36% of the total.
- Missouri
Jay Nixon, D, won with 58% of the vote, defeating Kenny Hulshof, R, who received 39% of vote. The spot opened when Gov. Matt Blunt, R, announced he would not seek a second term.
- New Hampshire
Gov. John Lynch; D, the incumbent, trounced opponent Joe Kenney, R, with 70% of the vote.
- Utah
Gov. Jon Huntsman, R, the incumbent, bested Bob Springmeyer, Democrat, with 78% of the vote.
- Vermont
Gov. Jim Douglas, R, the incumbent, beat Gaye Symington, D, with 54% of the vote.
- West Virginia
Gov. Joe Manchin, D, the incumbent, beat Russ Weeks, R, with 70% of the vote.
