Insurance Commissioner
Election Results
| Candidate | Votes | Pct |
|---|---|---|
| Mike Kreidler (D) | 1,538,289 | 58.02% |
| John Adams (R) | 1,112,949 | 41.98% |
* Race percentages are calculated with data from the Secretary of State's Office, which omits write-in votes from its calculations when there are too few to affect the outcome. The Spokane County Auditor's Office may have slightly different percentages than are reflected here because its figures include any write-in votes.
About The Race
This is the third time Republican challenger John Adams Jr. has made it through a primary to face Democratic incumbent Mike Kreidler in a general election. The commissioner is the top insurance regulator in the state. The position pays $116,950 plus health care and other benefits.
The Candidates
Mike Kreidler
- Party:
- Democrat
- Age:
- 81
- City:
- Tumwater, Washington
Education: Graduated from Gen. Curtis High School in University Place; Earned undergraduate and Doctor of Optometry degrees from Pacific University; Earned master’s degree in Public Health from UCLA in 1972.
Political experience: State insurance commissioner since 2001; member of U.S. House of Representatives, 1993-94; Washington state senator, 1985-92; Washington state representative, 1977-84; North Thurston County school board, 1973-76.
Work experience: Former member Northwest Power Planning Council; former regional director Department of Health and Human Services; owned optometrist practice for 20 years; former member U.S. Air Force Reserve.
Campaign Fundraising: Raised almost $39,000 as of Sept. 8; largest donors include Washington Education Association and Justice for All PAC at $4,000 and Washington Medical PAC, Washington Dental PAC and Carpenters Union for $2,000.
Family: Married to Lela Kreidler. Has three grown children.
Complete Coverage
Voter backlash lingers for supporters of weapons ban
As President Barack Obama set up a task force to recommend ways to prevent tragedies like the mass murders in Newtown, Conn., a progressive group in Washington joined the call Wednesday for a new ban on assault weapons. But anyone expecting quick, decisive action from Congress should realize the reluctance to discuss, let alone vote on, such a proposal is rooted in the last time one was passed and the election that followed.
Hole-in-one insurer has state teed off
OLYMPIA – The state insurance regulator is going after a company that claims to offer insurance against a hole-in-one prize but refused to pay off when a golfer shot one. Golf tournaments for charity often offer a large cash prize for any contestant who records a hole-in-one, and organizers buy insurance to pay the prize in the unlikely event that a golfer scores one.
Fabricated feline generates fraud case
OLYMPIA — A Tacoma man who asked an insurance company to reimburse him $20,000 for the loss of a cat that he said died in a car accident is facing fraud charges. Yevgeniy Samsonov, 29, didn’t have the cat and used photos of felines from the Internet, the state insurance commissioner’s office said.
Report backs health reform
Washington’s top insurance officials warned last week that undoing federal health care reforms will exacerbate the financial problems tied to growing numbers of uninsured residents. More than 1 million residents now lack health care coverage in the state. The number will grow to 1.1 million in 2013 if the U.S. Supreme Court strikes down reform, according to a report released by Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler.
State awarded $128 million for Health Benefit Exchange
OLYMPIA – Washington will receive a financial reward for forging ahead with one element of federal health care reform this spring while many other states were holding back. The U.S. Health and Human Services Department said Wednesday it will award Washington a $128 million grant to set up its Health Benefit Exchange, a place where small businesses and individuals can shop for health care coverage and compare different plans about as easily as they can shop online for airline tickets on Expedia or Priceline.
Gregoire inks health reform
OLYMPIA – Gov. Chris Gregoire and other Democratic officials marked Friday’s second anniversary of the signing of the Affordable Care Act – which Republicans prefer to call Obamacare – with a signing ceremony of their own. Gregoire signed legislation to help set up health insurance exchanges in Washington, a system that would help individuals and small businesses shop for medical plans by 2014.