Former Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina executive Jesse Thomas is running for governor of the state.
Mr. Thomas served as CEO of Blue Cross' Medicaid business, Healthy Blue, from 2018 to July 2023. Throughout his career in the healthcare industry, he has held leadership positions at Anthem (now Elevance Health), CareFirst BCBS, UnitedHealth Group, Molina Healthcare and Centene's WellCare, among others.
He is campaigning as a "no nonsense Republican" focused on economic issues, according to an Aug. 3 news release. Specifically, he is focused on eliminating the state's income tax, expanding school choice, implementing the state's Medicaid expansion and addressing the fentanyl epidemic.
“North Carolinians are ready for a governor that will provide real results for our citizens, not one who opines to the nonsense of the hour," Mr. Thomas said.
Other candidates running for governor include Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson and State Treasurer Dale Folwell.