North Carolina Commissioner of Insurance

General information
Office Type: | Partisan
Office website: | Official Link
Compensation: | $133,365
2020-2021 FY Budget: | $43,612,675
Term limits: | None
Structure
Length of term: |  4 years
Authority: |  North Carolina Constitution, Article III, Section 7
Selection Method: | Elected
Current Officeholder

North Carolina Commissioner of Insurance Mike Causey
Republican Party
Assumed office: 2017-01-01

Elections
Next election: | November 5, 2024
Last election: | November 3, 2020
Other North Carolina Executive Offices
Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Superintendent of Education • Agriculture Commissioner • Insurance Commissioner • Natural Resources Commissioner • Labor Commissioner • Public Service Commission

## Contents

* 1 Current officeholder
* 2 Authority
* 3 Qualifications
* 4 Vacancies
* 5 Duties
* 6 Elections
* 6.1 2020
* 6.2 2016
* 6.3 Full history
* 7 Divisions
* 8 State budget
* 9 Compensation
* 9.1 2020
* 9.2 2019
* 9.3 2018
* 9.4 2017
* 9.5 2016
* 9.6 2015
* 9.7 2014
* 9.8 2013
* 9.9 2010
* 10 Historical officeholders
* 11 Recent news
* 12 Contact information
* 13 See also
* 14 External links
* 15 Footnotes

The North Carolina Commissioner of Insurance is an elected state executive position in the North Carolina state government. The commissioner is the head of the North Carolina Department of Insurance, serves as a member of the Council of State, and is also the State Fire Marshall.[1] Among its duties, the Department of Insurance regulates the insurance industry, handles insurance-related complaints, and licenses insurance agents.[1] Additionally, the department houses the Office of the State Fire Marshall, which interprets building codes, trains firefighters, and awards grants to fire and rescue departments for equipment.[1]

The commissioner is elected by a statewide vote during presidential election years and serves for a four-year term.

## Current officeholder[edit]

The current officeholder is Mike Causey (R). He was elected to the position in 2016 and assumed office on January 1, 2017.[2] Causey was re-elected to a second term in 2020. He succeeded Wayne Goodwin (D) in the position.

## Authority[edit]

The commissioner of insurance's establishment and term of office are derived from  Article III, Section 7 of the North Carolina Constitution.

Article III, Section 7:

A Secretary of State, an Auditor, a Treasurer, a Superintendent of Public Instruction, an Attorney General, a Commissioner of Agriculture, a Commissioner of Labor, and a Commissioner of Insurance shall be elected by the qualified voters of the State in 1972 and every four years thereafter, at the same time and places as members of the General Assembly are elected. Their term of office shall be four years and shall commence on the first day of January next after their election and continue until their successors are elected and qualified.[3]

## Qualifications[edit]

Article VI, Section 6 of the North Carolina Constitution establishes the qualifications of the office:

Every qualified voter in North Carolina who is 21 years of age, except as in this Constitution disqualified, shall be eligible for election by the people to office.[3]

* Qualified North Carolina voter
* At least 21 years of age

## Vacancies[edit]

Details of vacancy appointments are addressed under Article III, Section 7.

If a vacancy occurs in the office, the governor appoints another to serve until a successor is elected and qualified. Every such vacancy shall be filled by election at the first election for members of the General Assembly that occurs more than 60 days after the vacancy has taken place, and the person chosen shall hold the office for the remainder of the unexpired term.[3]

## Duties[edit]

The commissioner of insurance is the head of the North Carolina Department of Insurance, serves as a member of the Council of State, and is also the State Fire Marshall.[1] Among its duties, the Department of Insurance regulates the insurance industry, handles insurance-related complaints, and licenses insurance agents.[1] Additionally, the department houses the Office of the State Fire Marshall, which interprets building codes, trains firefighters, and awards grants to fire and rescue departments for equipment.[1] Additional duties of the office include, but are not limited to:[1][4]

* Fixing and collect fees of services performed by code enforcement officials and collect mileage reimbursements for those officials;
* Reporting to the attorney general any violations of the laws relating to insurance companies, associations, and bureaus;
* Providing residents of the state a synopsis of the provisions of any insurance contract given to him or her after receiving the appropriate application from the resident;
* Investigating insurance fraud; and
* Educating the public about fire safety and injury prevention.

## Elections[edit]

North Carolina state government organizational chart

North Carolina elects the insurance commissioner in presidential election years. The officeholder is elected to a four-year term, which begins the first day of January following the election.[3]

### 2020[edit]

See also: North Carolina Insurance Commissioner election, 2020

General election candidates

* Mike Causey (Incumbent) (Republican Party) ✔
* Wayne Goodwin (Democratic Party)

* * *

= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. Democratic primary candidates

This primary was canceled and this candidate advanced:

* Wayne Goodwin ✔

* * *

= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Republican primary candidates

* Mike Causey (Incumbent) ✔
* Ronald Pierce

### 2016[edit]

See also: North Carolina Insurance Commissioner election, 2016
Mike Causey defeated incumbent Wayne Goodwin in the North Carolina insurance commisioner election. North Carolina Insurance Commisioner, 2016

Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes
| Republican  |  Mike Causey | 50.44% | 2,247,595
| Democratic  | Wayne Goodwin Incumbent | 49.56% | 2,208,241
Total Votes | 4,455,836
Source: ABC11

### Full history[edit]

To view the electoral history dating back to 2000 for the office of North Carolina Commissioner of Insurance, Click [show] to expand the section.

|

2012

See also: North Carolina down ballot state executive elections, 2012

Incumbent Wayne Goodwin (D) successfully won re-election, defeating Mike Causey (R) in the November 6, 2012 general election.

| North Carolina Commissioner of Insurance General Election, 2012

Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes
| Democratic  | Wayne Goodwin Incumbent | 51.9% | 2,226,344
| Republican  |  Mike Causey  | 48.1% | 2,066,601
Total Votes | 4,292,945
Election results via NC State Board of Elections

2008

On November 4, 2008, Wayne Goodwin won election to the office of North Carolina Commissioner of Insurance. He defeated John Odom (R) and Mark McMains (L) in the general election.

North Carolina Commissioner of Insurance, 2008

Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes
| Democratic  | Wayne Goodwin | 51.6% | 2,106,870
| Republican  |  John Odom  | 44.6% | 1,822,452
| Libertarian  |  Mark McMains  | 3.8% | 153,517
| Write-in |  Various | 0.1% | 2,358
Total Votes | 4,085,197
Election results via North Carolina State Board of Elections.

2004

On November 2, 2004, Jim Long won re-election to the office of North Carolina Commissioner of Insurance. He defeated C. Robert Brawley (R) in the general election.

North Carolina Commissioner of Insurance, 2004

Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes
| Democratic  | Jim Long Incumbent | 57.6% | 1,934,076
| Republican  |  C. Robert Brawley  | 42.4% | 1,421,398
Total Votes | 3,355,474
Election results via North Carolina State Board of Elections (timed out).

2000

On November 7, 2000, Jim Long won re-election to the office of North Carolina Commissioner of Insurance. He defeated Mike Causey (R) in the general election.

North Carolina Commissioner of Insurance, 2000

Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes
| Democratic  | Jim Long Incumbent | 56.5% | 1,590,139
| Republican  |  Mike Causey | 43.5% | 1,222,527
Total Votes | 2,812,666
Election results via North Carolina State Board of Elections (timed out).

## Divisions[edit]

Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for information that describes the divisions (if any exist) of a state executive office. That information for the North Carolina Commissioner of Insurance has not yet been added. After extensive research we were unable to identify any relevant information on state official websites. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.

## State budget[edit]

See also: North Carolina state budget and finances

The budget for the Department of Insurance in Fiscal Year 2020-2021 was $43,612,675.[5]

## Compensation[edit]

See also: Compensation of state executive officers

Article III, Section 9 of the North Carolina Constitution defines the method by which the agriculture commissioner's compensation is set:

The officers whose offices are established by this Article shall at stated periods receive the compensation and allowances prescribed by law, which shall not be diminished during the time for which they have been chosen.[3]

### 2020[edit]

In 2020, the commissioner received a salary of $133,365, according to the Council of State Governments.[6]

### 2019[edit]

In 2019, the commissioner received a salary of $127,561, according to the Council of State Governments.[7]

### 2018[edit]

In 2018, the commissioner received a salary of $127,561, according to the Council of State Governments.[8]

### 2017[edit]

In 2017, the commissioner received a salary of $127,561, according to the Council of State Governments.[9]

### 2016[edit]

In 2016, the insurance commissioner received a salary of $125,676, according to the Council of State Governments.[10]

### 2015[edit]

In 2015, the insurance commissioner received a salary of $125,676, according to the Council of State Governments.[11]

### 2014[edit]

In 2014, the commissioner was paid an estimated $124,676, according to the Council of State Governments.[12]

### 2013[edit]

In 2013, the commissioner was paid an estimated $124,676.[13]

### 2010[edit]

In 2010, the commissioner was paid an estimated $123,198, according to the Council of State Governments.[14]

## Historical officeholders[edit]

There have been 11 commissioners of insurance since 1899. Of the 11 commissioners, ten were Democratic and one was Republican. In 2016, Mike Causey became the first Republican elected to the office.[15][16]

List of Historical Officeholders from 1899-Present

#  |  Name  |  Tenure  |  Party
1 |  James R. Young  |  1899-1921  |  Democratic
2 |  Stacey W. Wade  |  1921-1927  |  Democratic
3 |  Daniel C. Boney  |  1927-1942  |  Democratic
4 |  William P. Hodges  |  1942-1949  |  Democratic
5 |  Waldo C. Creek  |  1949-1953  |  Democratic
6 |  Charles F. Gold  |  1953-1962  |  Democratic
7 |  Edwin S. Lanier  |  1962-1973  |  Democratic
8 |  John R. Ingram  |  1973-1985  |  Democratic
9 |  James Eugene Long  |  1985-2009  |  Democratic
10 |  George Goodwin |  2009-2017  |  Democratic
11 |  Mike Causey |  2017-Present  |  Republican

## Recent news[edit]

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms North Carolina Commissioner of Insurance. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

North Carolina Commissioner of Insurance - Google News

## Contact information[edit]

Physical address:
Albermarle Building
325\. N. Salisbury Street
Raleigh NC 27603

Mailing address:
NC Department of Insurance
1201 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699

Toll free: 855-408-1212
Agent services: 919-807-6800

## See also[edit]

North Carolina | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis

|
|

North Carolina State Executive Offices North Carolina State Legislature North Carolina Courts |  2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 North Carolina elections: 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 |  Party control of state government State government trifectas State of the state addresses Partisan composition of governors

## External links[edit]

|  Suggest a link

|

* North Carolina Commissioner of Insurance

## Footnotes[edit]

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 NC Department of Insurance, "About DOI," accessed Feb. 1, 2021
2. ↑ NC Department of Insurance, "Mike Causey," accessed Feb. 1, 2021
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 North Carolina State Legislature, "North Carolina State Constitution," accessed Feb. 1, 2021
4. ↑ Justia, "NC Gen Stat § 58-2-40 (2019)," accessed Feb. 1, 2021
5. ↑ Office of State Budget and Management, "2020-21 Certified Budget," accessed Feb. 1, 2021
6. ↑ Issuu, "The Book of the States," Sept. 30, 2020
7. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2019," accessed Jan. 27, 2021
8. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2018," accessed Jan. 27, 2021
9. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2017," accessed Jan. 27, 2021
10. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed August 27, 2016
11. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed August 27, 2016
12. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed December 3, 2014
13. ↑ The Nerve Center, "S.C. Salary Panel Approves Salaries for New Insurance Director, Winthrop University President," accessed February 27, 2013
14. ↑ The Council of State Governments, "The Book of States 2010 Table 4.11," accessed May 14, 2011
15. ↑ Carolana.com, "Commissioner of Insurance," accessed Feb. 2, 2021
16. ↑ Carolina Journal, "Three GOP Challengers Hope To Be First Republican Insurance Commissioner," March 14, 2016

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