Insurance Commissioner
Election Results
| Candidate | Votes | Pct |
|---|---|---|
| Mike Kreidler (D) | 2,506,693 | 65.71% |
| Chirayu Avinash Patel (R) | 1,308,292 | 34.29% |
* 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.
The Candidates
Mike Kreidler
- Party:
- Democratic
- 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.
Chirayu Avinash Patel
- Party:
- Republican
- Age:
- 36
- City:
- Tacoma, Washington
Education: Kentwood High School, Covington. Studying biochemistry at University of Washington
Work experience: Insurance agent/broker
Political experience: First run for office
Campaign Fundraising: Has reported no contributions or spending to the Public Disclosure Commission as of Sept. 9.
Family: Single
Complete Coverage
Democratic incumbents capture new terms for Washington attorney general, auditor land commissioner, insurance commissioner
In down-ballot statewide executive races, Democrat incumbents prevailed on Tuesday night.
Kreidler marks milestones, Patel has roadblocks in run for Washington insurance commissioner
Mike Kreidler, Democrat running for re-election as state insurance commissioner, has several milestones he can point to as he seeks a sixth term.By comparison, Republican challenger Chirayu Patel would seem to have more roadblocks than other challengers seeking statewide office.
Spin Control: Wrapping up loose ends from Tuesday’s primary
Candidates have to believe they can win and shouldn’t discard that faith until absolutely necessary. But neither should they tempt fate the way initiative entrepreneur turned would-be governor Tim Eyman did Tuesday night.
Two Democrats to face off for Washington lieutenant governor in November
A Democrat is almost guaranteed to be Washington’s next lieutenant governor.
Health care rights for transgender patients in flux due to Trump administration rule change
After the Department of Health and Human Services scrapped an Obama-administration rule to protect transgender men and women from being discriminated against by federal health care programs, Washington state will extend protections to residents with state-regulated health plans.
With Inslee running for re-election, other Democrats staying put
By running for a third term, Gov. Jay Inslee has kept more Democrats in place in the 2020 elections but energized Republicans.
Another company billing itself as offering faith-based health coverage ordered to stop selling in state
OneShare Health is the latest firm targeted by Mike Kreidler, who argues several companies selling health coverage policies don’t fit state and federal definitions for “health care sharing ministries.”
Kreidler: Trinity to pay fine, stop selling health ‘sharing’ policies
Trinity agrees to stop selling health “sharing” policies, pay $150,000 fine, insurance commissioner says.