Political newcomer selected by voters to lead Oklahoma Insurance Department

OKLAHOMA CITY — In a race that saw both candidates vowing to tackle the state’s soaring insurance rates, voters selected a Republican to lead the state’s Insurance Department.

Republican Bob Sullivan defeated Democrat Craig MacIntyre to become the state’s next insurance commissioner. Oklahoma’s current insurance commissioner, Republican Glen Mulready, could not run again due to term limits.

Sullivan, an independent agent and broker, will inherit a department that’s plagued by a lack of consumer confidence and questions about why the state’s insurance rates are now the highest in the nation.

He said Tuesday that he’s honored and grateful to be selected as the state’s next insurance commissioner.

“My 20-year career in this industry has taught me that we have problems in our state that require a specific skill set, and we bring that skill set to the Oklahoma insurance department,” Sullivan said. “And we’re going to bring insurance companies into a more realistic frame, bring back affordability to our marketplace, make sure your claims are paid, and make Oklahoma insurance great again. Make insurance fair again for the state of Oklahoma.”

The Insurance Department has two constitutionally mandated responsibilities — implement and enforce the state’s insurance laws and advocate for consumers.

Sullivan has vowed to wield a new state law that gives the commissioner increased oversight over insurance companies seeking to increase rates before they happen. He wants to use that law, which takes effect next year, to ensure Oklahoma’s rates are increasing at reasonable rates and not continuing to outpace neighboring states with similar weather patterns or natural disaster-prone areas such as Florida or California.

He also said he will improve the consumer advocacy division, which is designed to help Oklahomans navigate issues with claims denials, adjuster delays and poor communication from an insurer.