Insurance commissioner elections were held Tuesday in the following four states:

California: Democrat Dave Jones defeated Republican Mike Villines in the race for California Insurance Commissioner.  Mr. Jones will replace incumbent California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner, who had sought the Republican nomination for governor, but was defeated in the primaries by Meg Whitman.  Mr. Jones is currently serving his third term in the California State Assembly.

Georgia: Republican Ralph Hudgens defeated Democrat Mary Squires and Libertarian Shane Bruce to replace incumbent John Oxendine, who has held the post of Insurance and Fire Safety Commissioner since 1994.  Mr. Hudgens currently serves in Georgia’s General Assembly, in which he holds the post of Chairman of the Insurance Committee in the State Senate.

Kansas: Incumbent Kansas Insurance Commissioner and former NAIC President Sandy Praeger faced no opposition in the Kansas election Tuesday after succeeding in August’s primary for the Republican nomination.

Oklahoma: Republican challenger John Doak defeated incumbent Democrat Kim Holland, who was recently appointed Vice President of the NAIC.  Mr. Doak is a former insurance agent and current insurance executive.

The other 7 jurisdictions that directly elect insurance commissioners did not hold elections for the post on Tuesday.  In the remaining jurisdictions, where insurance commissioners are appointed by the governor or by entities controlled by the governor, new insurance commissioner appointments are expected in states where new governors were elected Tuesday.

Finally, in Connecticut, Thomas Sullivan has resigned from the post of Insurance Commissioner effective November 12.  His replacement has not yet been named.