Four out of the five insurance commissioner seats on the ballot on November 4 went to Democrats, including three open seats. Only appointed incumbent Republican North Dakota Insurance Commissioner Adam Hamm managed to hang on, with a margin of victory of less than 1,800 votes. Delaware, Montana and North Carolina will see new Democratic commissioners, all replacing incumbent Democrats who did not run for re-election. In Washington state, incumbent Democrat Mike Kreidler won a third term by a 22.7% margin.

Record Democratic turnout, fueled by support for President-Elect Barack Obama, made a particular impact in North Carolina, where voters elected not only a new insurance commissioner, but a new governor and a new U.S. Senator, all Democrats.

November 10, 2008