North Carolina Elects Causey as Insurance Commissioner

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin, a Democrat, was narrowly defeated Nov. 8 by his Republican opponent Mike Causey. Goodwin has served as North Carolina Insurance Commissioner since 2009.

Causey, an insurance agency owner, won by nearly 39,000 votes, according to state news sites.

He ran on a platform of modernizing what he calls on his website an “outdated” insurance department.

“It’s time that North Carolina had an insurance commissioner that doesn’t play politics and reflects the conservative values and principles of most North Carolinians,” his website says.

Causey lists his experience in the insurance industry as spanning 25 years, which has included as an agent and insurance agency owner.

Causey and Goodwin battled it out for the post once before in 2012, with Goodwin winning then by 4 percentage points, according to Ballotpedia.

“My message of ‘More Choices, Better Service and Lower Rates’ resonated with the voters,” Causey said in a statement to Insurance Journal. “A special thanks to Commissioner Goodwin for his years of service in state government.”

Goodwin touted the department’s efforts in fighting insurance fraud, lowering insurance rates and working to get better training and equipment for volunteer fire departments.

But he is currently embroiled in a battle with state homeowner insurers over a 24.9 percent rate increase denial in 2014.

The North Carolina Rate Bureau has asked the State Supreme Court to review after an appeals court sided with Goodwin.

Causey says on his website one of his tasks as commissioner will include reforming the North Carolina Rate Bureau.