State Overview

2007 PCI Legislative Information Chart

A Look at Elections in 2007

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Commissioner, Gubernatorial Races Heat Up in Off-year Elections

As the nation settles in after what is being touted as one of the most significant Mid-term Elections in history, five states are gearing up for off-year elections. Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, and Virginia will all send voters to the ballot boxes in November.

Of particular importance to the industry are the upcoming races for insurance commissioner in Mississippi and Louisiana.

George Dale was elected Mississippi’s Commissioner of Insurance in 1975. Now in his eighth term, Commissioner Dale has confirmed that he will run again in 2007. At the moment, he is running unopposed. Dale is the longest-serving insurance commissioner in the United States. In his career, he has consistently shown a deep commitment to finding long-term solutions to stabilize the insurance market by encouraging competition and fairness for consumers.

Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon has indicated that he will run for the four-year term in 2007. Donelon was elected to fill the one-year vacancy left by the resignation of Commissioner Robert Wooley in 2006. Since taking over, the commissioner has proven to be approachable on issues of concern, which is critical as we work to stabilize and improve the Louisiana marketplace.

PCI will continue to spotlight important races as these contests heat up. Here’s a first look at the races and declared candidates. Because it is still early in the process, some candidate information included below could change.

Kentucky

GOVERNOR
Republican: Ernie Fletcher (Incumbent), Anne Northup (former Congresswoman), Billy Harper

Democratic: Jonathon Miller (current state treasurer), Steve Beshear (former lieutenant governor), Steve Henry, Otis Hensley, Jody Richards

KEY DATES
Filling Deadline | Jan. 31
Primary Date | May 22
Election Day | Nov. 6

Other Kentucky offices up for election in 2007 include the lieutenant governor (open seat), secretary of state, attorney general, treasurer (open seat), auditor of public accounts, and commissioner of agriculture.

Louisiana

GOVERNOR
Republican: Bobby Jindal (Congressman)

Democratic: Kathleen Babineaux Blanco (Incumbent), Hardy Parkerson

Other: Libertarian T. Lee Horne, III

INSURANCE COMMISSIONER
Republican: James Donelon (Incumbent) Currently running unopposed

KEY DATES
Primary | Oct. 20
General Election | Nov.17

Other offices up for election in 2007 include the lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, treasurer, and commissioner of agriculture and forestry.

Mississippi

GOVERNOR
Republican: Gov. Haley Barbour (Incumbent)

Democratic: Bill Renick

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
Republican: Phil Bryant, Charles Ross (state senator)

Democratic: Jamie R. Franks, Jr.

INSURANCE COMMISSIONER
Democratic: George Dale (Incumbent)

KEY DATES
Primary | Aug. 7
Second Primary (Runoff) | Aug. 28
General | Nov. 6

Other offices up for election in 2007 include the lieutenant governor (open seat), secretary of state, attorney general, treasurer, auditor of public accounts (open seat), and commissioner of agriculture and commerce.

New Jersey

KEY ELECTIONS
The New Jersey State Senate and Assembly are up for reelection in 2007.

KEY DATES
Primary | June 5
General | Nov. 6

Virginia

KEY ELECTIONS
All 100 House of Delegates and 40 Senate members are up for reelection in 2007. Delegates face election every two years, and senators hold four-year terms.

KEY DATES
Primary | June 12
General | Nov. 6