Insurance commissioners significantly shape the industry’s regulatory landscape in each state. A handful even come from healthcare backgrounds, specifically.
Becker’s compiled a list of these leaders from across the country, as well as details on their expertise.
Here are the top officials from all states and the District of Columbia:
Alabama
Republican Gov. Kay Ivey appointed Mark Fowler as commissioner of insurance in 2023. Mr. Fowler joined the insurance department in 2013.
Alaska
Heather Carpenter was previously a deputy director before becoming the division’s director. Before that, she advised the commissioner of health and social services on healthcare policy.
Arizona
Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs appointed Charles “Chuck” Bassett to the director role in January 2026. For more than 20 years, Mr. Bassett was the vice president of government relations and public policy at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona.
Arkansas
Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders chose Jimmy Harris to serve as the commissioner in November 2025.
California
Elected in 2018, Ricardo Lara previously served in the California legislature.
Colorado
Democratic Gov. Jared Polis appointed Michael Conway to the commissioner role in 2018 before his confirmation the following year. Prior, Mr. Conway was the deputy commissioner for consumer and compliance services and an assistant attorney general before that.
Connecticut
Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont nominated Joshua Hershman as commissioner, who is now acting in an interim capacity. Mr. Hershman was previously the CEO of the Immigrant Life Insurance Company of America.
Delaware
First elected in 2016, Trinidad Navarro previously spent 20 years with the New Castle County Police and became New Castle County Sheriff in 2010.
District of Columbia
Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser appointed Karima Woods as the commissioner of insurance, securities and banking in 2020. In the district government, Ms. Woods was previously the director of business development and strategy.
Florida
Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Michael Yaworsky in 2023. Mr. Yaworsky was previously the vice chairman of the Florida Gaming Control Commission and the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation’s chief of staff.
Georgia
Republican Gov. Brain Kemp swore in John King as insurance and safety fire commissioner in 2019. Mr. King has a career history in law enforcement.
Hawaii
Nadine Ando assumed office in 2023, coming from a career as a lawyer.
Idaho
Former Republican Gov. Clement Leroy “Butch” Otter appointed Dean Cameron to the role, effective June 2015. He worked as an insurance agent for 32 years.
Illinois
Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker appointed Ann Gillespie, a former state senator and vice president at CVS Caremark, in 2024 before her confirmation in 2025.
Indiana
Former Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb appointed Holly Lambert in 2024. Before, she was a market conduct attorney for the enforcement division.
Iowa
Former Republican Gov. Terry Branstad appointed Doug Ommen in 2017. Previously, Mr. Ommen worked as chief counsel in the Missouri Attorney General’s Office.
Kansas
Vicki Schmidt was first elected in 2018 and is now running as a Republican candidate for Kansas governor. She was previously in the Kansas Senate and spent over 40 years as a pharmacist.
Kentucky
Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear appointed Sharon Clark in 2020, but she previously held the role from 2008 to 2016, as well. Beyond her role, Ms. Clark worked for the Finance and Administration Cabinet.
Louisiana
Tim Temple was voted commissioner in 2023. Before, he was the president of Temptan, an investment management business.
Maine
Democratic Gov. Janet Mills appointed Robert Carey as the superintendent of insurance before his confirmation in 2024. Previously, Mr. Carey was a consultant focused on strategic planning, commercial health insurance and public health coverage. He was also the director of planning and development for the Massachusetts Health Insurance Connector Authority.
Maryland
Democratic Gov. Wes Moore appointed Marie Grant effective 2024. She is an attorney who previously was assistant secretary for health policy at the Maryland Department of Health and vice president of public policy at CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield.
Massachusetts
Gov. Maura Healey appointed Michael Caljouw in 2024. Mr. Caljouw has over 30 years of industry experience and most recently served as vice president for state and federal government and regulatory affairs at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts.
Michigan
Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer appointed Anita Fox as director in 2019. She worked as a practicing attorney previously.
Minnesota
Democratic Gov. Tim Walz appointed Grace Arnold as the commissioner of commerce in 2020. Before joining the department, she spearheaded product development for individual and family plans at an insurer formerly known as Bright Health.
Mississippi
First elected in 2007, Mike Chaney is also a U.S. army veteran and former state lawmaker.
Missouri
Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe appointed Angela Nelson to the role, and she assumed the position in 2025. Before joining the department, Ms. Nelson had a brief stint at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City managing compliance operations.
Montana
State Auditor James Brown took over his role in 2024. He spent four years as president of the Montana Public Service Commission.
Nebraska
Republican Gov. Jim Pillen appointed Eric Dunning as director effective in 2023. Mr. Dunning was the director of government affairs at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska before.
Nevada
Ned Gaines became the commissioner in 2025, bringing more than 25 years in the insurance industry.
New Hampshire
D.J. Bettencourt was confirmed in 2023. He previously served in the state House.
New Jersey
Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy appointed Justin Zimmerman in 2023. He previously was chief of policy and legislation to the New Jersey State Senate President Pro Tempore.
New Mexico
Alice Kane was appointed as superintendent effective 2023. She was previously vice president and senior adviser to the general counsel at Guardian Life Insurance Co.
New York
Kaitlin Asrow is the acting superintendent as of October 2025. She came from the Federal Reserve System.
North Carolina
Mike Causey is the first Republican commissioner of insurance for the state. He was an engineer before transitioning to the insurance industry.
North Dakota
Jon Godfread was elected commissioner in 2016. Previously, he was vice president of governmental affairs for the Greater North Dakota Chamber.
Ohio
Republican Gov. Mike DeWine appointed Judith French in 2021. Previously, she was a justice on the Supreme Court of Ohio and an appellate judge.
Oklahoma
Glen Mulready was elected to the role in 2019, began working as a broker in 1984 and held executive roles at two health insurance companies.
Oregon
TK Keen was chosen as commissioner in 2025. He had been deputy insurance commissioner for the five years leading up to his appointment.
Pennsylvania
Michael Humphreys was named to the role in 2022. Previously, he was chief of staff for the insurance department and assistant commissioner for insurance at the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance.
Rhode Island
Democratic Gov. Dan McKee named Elizabeth Kelleher Dwyer as insurance director in 2023. She has spent over 20 years in the department.
South Carolina
Michael Wise was appointed in 2023. He started as a rates analyst in 2009 before transitioning to actuarial and management positions.
South Dakota
Larry Deiter has been the director since 2015. He was previously a vice president and market manager of a financial institution.
Tennessee
Republican Gov. Dan Lee appointed Carter Lawrence, who previously worked as assistant commissioner and COO.
Texas
Republican Gov. Greg Abbott appointed Cassie Brown in 2018. She was the commissioner of Workers’ Compensation.
Utah
Jon Pike has held the role since 2021. He worked for Intermountain Healthcare, spending 26 years as the southwest Utah operations director for its insurer, SelectHealth.
Vermont
Kaj Samsom was appointed to the role in 2025. Prior to that, he was the chief auditor for the National Life Insurance Group.
Virginia
Scott White was appointed in 2018. He led the commission’s financial services legal division previously.
Washington
Patty Kuderer spent nearly a decade in the state’s legislature before being elected as the insurance commissioner in 2024.
West Virginia
Former Republican Gov. Jim Justice appointed Allan McVey to the role in 2021, following his tenure from 2017 to 2019.
Wisconsin
Democratic Gov. Tony Evers appointed Nathan Houdek in 2022. Mr. Houdek previously worked in a deputy capacity.
Wyoming
Republican Gov. Mark Gordon appointed Jeff Rude in 2019. He was previously a deputy commissioner and senior health policy and planning analyst.
