Monica Lindeen
Monica Lindeen is the former executive director of the Democratic Party of Montana. She first took this position in 2018. On October 21, 2019, Lindeen announced she would be stepping down as director by the end of the year.[1] She stepped down on December 31, 2019.[2]
Lindeen is a former Montana commissioner of securities and insurance, state auditor. Lindeen, a Democrat, assumed office in 2009 and was re-elected in 2012.[3] She was ineligible to seek re-election in 2016 due to term limits.
Lindeen unsuccessfully ran for Montana Secretary of State in 2016.[4] She was unopposed for the Democratic nomination. She was defeated in the general election on November 8, 2016.
From 1997 to 2000, Lindeen served as vice chair of the state Democratic Party. In 2006, she ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. House of Representatives.[3]
Biography
Following her graduation from Montana State University at Billings in 1992, Lindeen was a faculty member of the Department of English/Philosophy until 1994. From 1995 to2000, she helped to build the Montana Communications Network, a locally based internet provider, serving as owner and general manager.
Education
- B.S.Ed. in English and history, Montana State University, Billings (1992)
Political career
State Auditor/Insurance Commissioner (2009-2017)
Lindeen was elected commissioner of securities and insurance, state auditor in November 2008. She successfully won re-election on November 6, 2012. She was term-limited and did not seek re-election to the position in 2016. Instead, Lindeen campaigned for Montana secretary of state, but was defeated in the general election on November 8, 2016.
President of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (2015)
In 2014, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners selected Lindeen to be the President of the NAIC. Her term began on January 1, 2015.[5][6] The NAIC is made up of the insurance commissioners from each of the 50 states, as well as Washington, D.C., and five U.S. territories. According to their website, the NAIC's purpose is to facilitate cooperation among the state insurance regulators, enabling them to "establish standards and best practices, conduct peer review, and coordinate their regulatory oversight."[7]
Excellence in Consumer Advocacy Award (2013)
In 2013, the NAIC's Consumer Representatives awarded Lindeen the Excellence in Consumer Advocacy Award for "her work as a strong voice for consumer protection and her dedication in maintaining states’ rights in insurance regulation."[5][6]
Montana House of Representatives (1998-2008)
First elected in 1998, Lindeen served four terms in the Montana House of Representatives. She represented District 43, an agricultural district covering four counties from Billings to Miles City.[8]
Elections
2016
Lindeen was ineligible to seek re-election in 2016 due to term limits. On May 27, 2015, Lindeen announced that she was running for secretary of state to replace outgoing Secretary of State Linda McCulloch (D).[4] She was unopposed for the Democratic nomination. She competed with former state Sen. Corey Stapleton (R) and Roger Roots (Lib.) in the November 8 general election.
Corey Stapleton defeated Monica Lindeen and Roger Roots in the Montana secretary of state election.
| Montana Secretary of State, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Corey Stapleton |
55.49% | 277,473 | |
| Democratic | Monica Lindeen | 40.97% | 204,861 | |
| Libertarian | Roger Roots | 3.54% | 17,687 | |
| Total Votes | 500,021 | |||
| Source: Montana Secretary of State | ||||
Monica Lindeen ran unopposed in the Montana Democratic primary for secretary of state.
| Montana Democratic primary for secretary of state, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Monica Lindeen (unopposed) |
100.00% | 111,525 |
| Total Votes (686 of 686 precincts reporting) | 111,525 | |
| Source: Montana Secretary of State | ||
2014
Lindeen was considered a potential candidate to fill the U.S. Senate seat held by retiring Democratic U.S. Sen Max Baucus. She announced in July 2013 that she would not run in 2014.[9][10]
2012
Lindeen won re-election as Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance, State Auditor in 2012.[11] She was unopposed in the June 5 primary and defeated Republican state Rep. Derek Skees in the general election on November 6, 2012.
| Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance, State Auditor General Election, 2012 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Monica Lindeen Incumbent |
53.5% | 248,447 | |
| Republican | Derek Skees | 46.5% | 215,743 | |
| Total Votes | 464,190 | |||
| Election results via Montana Secretary of State | ||||
| Montana Auditor Democratic Primary, 2012 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes | ||
| Monica Lindeen |
100% | 83,570 | ||
| Total Votes | 83,570 | |||
| Election results via Montana Secretary of State. | ||||
Issue positions
A major issue of the 2012 campaign was implementation of the Affordable Care Act, referred to as "Obamacare." Lindeen said she has worked to make sure Montana maintains its authority over insurance. To that end, in 2011 she asked the Montana State Legislature to create a state-based exchange and give the state the power to review health-insurance rate increases.
She stated, “What I’ve really worked to do is make sure we maintain our state authority as the feds are implementing the Affordable Care Act. My opponent, and others like him, said no.”[12]
2008
Lindeen won election in November 2008, defeating Republican Duane Grimes.[13]
| Montana Commissioner of Insurance and Securities, State Auditor, 2008 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Monica Lindeen Incumbent |
53.5% | 246,522 | |
| Republican | Duane Grimes | 46.5% | 214,241 | |
| Total Votes | 460,763 | |||
Campaign themes
2016
Lindeen's campaign website stated:
| “ | Monica has a proven track record of ensuring that money and influence do not step on the rights of Montanans. She knows that the real work of Montana isn’t about scoring a political win, but about building longterm solutions to real problems. She understands the problems facing Montana’s family businesses. And she knows the importance of maintaining Montana’s outdoor heritage as a member of the Montana Land Board.
Success won’t be easy. But Monica has proven she isn’t afraid of hard work and knows how to get the job done.[14] |
” |
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Lindeen and her husband, David, have three children.[3]
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Monica Lindeen Montana Auditor. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
| Montana | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
|---|---|---|
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|
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- Montana down ballot state executive elections, 2012
- Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance, State Auditor
- Auditor
- Montana Secretary of State
External links
- Montana Department of Securities and Insurance
- Official campaign website
- Legislative Profile from Project Vote Smart
- Campaign contributions: 2012, 2010, 2008, 2004, 2002, 2000, 1998, 1996, 1994
Footnotes
- ↑ Independent Record, "Lindeen stepping down as head of Montana Democratic Party," October 21, 2019
- ↑ Montana Democrats,Montana Democrats Name Sandi Luckey New Executive Director," January 1, 2020
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Project Vote Smart, "Monica Lindeen biography," accessed December 24, 2011
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Missoulian, "Lindeen campaigning for Secretary of State," accessed July 22, 2015
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 PIA Western Alliance, "Montana's Monica Lindeen new NAIC President," accessed July 26, 2015
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 NAIC, "Commissioner Bio: Montana," accessed July 26, 2015
- ↑ NAIC, "About the NAIC," accessed July 26, 2015
- ↑ Monica Lindeen for State Auditor, "About Monica," accessed December 24, 2011
- ↑ Politico, "Brian Schweitzer move aids GOP in battle for Senate," July 13,2013
- ↑ The Washington Post, "Lindeen won’t run for Senate in Montana," July 16, 2013
- ↑ Billings Gazette, "Many Montanans scoping out 2012 political races ," June 12, 2011
- ↑ Missoulian, "Auditor candidates tout coal bonafides at debate," October 4, 2012
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "November 2008 General Election Results," accessed March 25, 2011
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Monica Lindeen, "Meet Monica," accessed May 30, 2016
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by ' |
Montana Auditor, Commissioner of Insurance 2009–present |
Succeeded by Matthew Rosendale (R) |
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