Kuderer Sworn in as Washington Insurance Commissioner

Patty Kuderer was sworn in as Washington’s ninth insurance commissioner on Wednesday.

She is one of only 11 elected insurance commissioners in the U.S., and she’s Washington’s first new commissioner in 24 years.

Kuderer defeated Republican Phil Fortunato in the bid to replace Washington Commissioner of Insurance Mike Kreidler, the nation’s longest serving insurance commissioner. Kreidler, a Democrat who first took office in 2001, announced in 2023 he was not running for re-election. Kreidler was re-elected to his sixth term in 2020.

Kuderer, a former trial attorney, represented Washington’s 48th Legislative District in the state House of Representatives (2015-2016) and Senate (2017-2024).