Mississippi Commissioner of Insurance

Mississippi Commissioner of Insurance
General information
Office Type:	Partisan
Office website:	Official Link
Compensation:	$90,000
2025 FY Budget:	$22,068,556
Term limits:	None
Structure
Length of term:	4 years
Authority:	1902 Act of Mississippi Legislature
Selection Method:	Elected
Current Officeholder
Mississippi Commissioner of Insurance Mike Chaney Republican Party Assumed office: 2008
Elections
Next election:	November 2, 2027
Last election:	November 7, 2023
Other Mississippi Executive Offices
Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Superintendent of Education • Agriculture Commissioner • Insurance Commissioner • Executive Director of Environmental Quality • Executive Director of Employment Security • Public Service Commission • Transportation Commission

The Mississippi Commissioner of Insurance is an elected state executive position in the Mississippi state government.

The commissioner executes all laws related to insurance companies, corporations, associations and fraternal orders, their agents, and adjusters. The commissioner also serves as State Fire Marshal and administers the Mississippi Fire Prevention Code.

Current officeholder

The current officeholder is Mike Chaney (R). He was elected in 2007 and re-elected in 2011 and 2015.

Authority

The Mississippi Insurance Department was created by an Act of the Mississippi legislature in 1902, which also provided for the election of the first insurance commissioner in 1903.

Qualifications

To qualify to run for insurance commissioner, candidates must be:

• at least 25 years of age
• a qualified elector
• citizen of Mississippi for five years

Elections

Mississippi elects insurance commissioners to four-year terms during gubernatorial election years. For Mississippi, 2007, 2011, 2015, and 2019 were all insurance commissioner election years.

Results

2023

See also: Mississippi Insurance Commissioner election, 2023

General election

General election for Mississippi Commissioner of Insurance

Incumbent Mike Chaney defeated Bruce Burton in the general election for Mississippi Commissioner of Insurance on November 7, 2023.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Mike Chaney (R)	59.3	480,514
		Bruce Burton (D)	40.7	329,214

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 809,728
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Mississippi Commissioner of Insurance

Bruce Burton advanced from the Democratic primary for Mississippi Commissioner of Insurance on August 8, 2023.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Bruce Burton	100.0	182,701

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source 1 Source 2 Source 3	Total votes: 182,701
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Mississippi Commissioner of Insurance

Incumbent Mike Chaney defeated Mitch Young in the Republican primary for Mississippi Commissioner of Insurance on August 8, 2023.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Mike Chaney	80.2	292,382
		Mitch Young	19.8	72,389

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 364,771
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2019

See also: Mississippi Insurance Commissioner election, 2019

General election

General election for Mississippi Commissioner of Insurance

Incumbent Mike Chaney defeated Robert Amos in the general election for Mississippi Commissioner of Insurance on November 5, 2019.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Mike Chaney (R)	61.3	533,324
		Robert Amos (D)	38.7	337,297

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 870,621
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Mississippi Commissioner of Insurance

Robert Amos advanced from the Democratic primary for Mississippi Commissioner of Insurance on August 6, 2019.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Robert Amos	100.0	251,664

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 251,664
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Mississippi Commissioner of Insurance

Incumbent Mike Chaney advanced from the Republican primary for Mississippi Commissioner of Insurance on August 6, 2019.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Mike Chaney	100.0	345,736

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 345,736
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2015

See also: Mississippi Commissioner of Insurance election, 2015

The race was uncontested. Reform Party candidate Johnny McLeod was to face incumbent Mike Chaney (R) in the general election. However, state election officials removed him from the ballot on September 9, 2015. The three election commissioners, Governor Phil Bryant (R), Attorney General Jim Hood (D), and Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann (R), said it was impossible for McLeod to prove he was eligible to run. The commissioners cited discrepancies in his personal information in public records--different middle initials and dates of birth--in ruling that he could not prove he had lived in Mississippi for five years.

Reform Party gubernatorial candidate Shawn O'Hara said that he incorrectly filled out a voter registration form on McLeod's behalf, but that McLeod later filed a correct version. McLeod ultimately did not appear on the ballot, and Chaney won after running unopposed.

Chaney defeated John Mosley in the Republican primary and ran unopposed in the general election.

Mississippi Insurance Commissioner Republican Primary, 2015
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Mike Chaney Incumbent	72.6%	194,792
John Mosley	27.4%	73,657
Total Votes		268,449
Election results via Mississippi Secretary of State.

2011

See also: Mississippi down ballot state executive elections, 2011

On November 8, 2011, Mike Chaney won re-election to the office of Mississippi Commissioner of Insurance. He defeated Louis Fondren (D) and Barbara Dale Washer (Reform) in the general election.

Mississippi Commissioner of Insurance, 2011
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Mike Chaney Incumbent	62%	538,008
	Democratic	Louis Fondren	34.7%	301,185
	Reform	Barbara Dale Washer	3.4%	29,200
Total Votes				868,393
Election results via Mississippi Secretary of State.

Full history

To view the electoral history dating back to 2003 for the office of Mississippi Insurance Commissioner, click [show] to expand the section.

2007 On November 6, 2007, Mike Chaney won election to the office of Mississippi Commissioner of Insurance. He defeated Gary Anderson (D) in the general election. Mississippi Commissioner of Insurance, 2007 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Republican Mike Chaney 56.5% 414,718      Democratic Gary Anderson 43.5% 319,287 Total Votes 734,005 Election results via Mississippi Secretary of State. 2003 On November 4, 2003, George Dale won to the office of Mississippi Commissioner of Insurance. He defeated Aaron "Lucky" DuPuy (R) and Barbara Dale Washer (Reform) in the general election. Mississippi Commissioner of Insurance, 2003 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Democratic George Dale 71.4% 610,341      Republican Aaron "Lucky" DuPuy 24.8% 211,859      Reform Barbara Dale Washer 3.9% 32,969 Total Votes 855,169 Election results via Mississippi Secretary of State.

Vacancies

Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches the constitutional or statutory text that details the process of filling vacancies for a state executive office. That information for the Mississippi Commissioner of Insurance has not yet been added. After extensive research, we were unable to identify any relevant information on state official websites. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.

Duties

The duties of the commissioner are outlined on the Insurance Department website:

"The Commissioner is charged with execution of all laws relative to insurance companies, corporations, associations and fraternal orders, their agents and adjusters. The Commissioner licenses and regulates the practices of all insurance companies, agents, burial associations, fraternal societies, bail bondsmen, and other entities engaged in the business of insurance. The Commissioner, as State Fire Marshal, acting through the State Chief Deputy Fire Marshal, investigates all fires called to his attention occurring in the state, licenses manufacturers, installers/transporters and dealers of mobile homes and regulates their practices. The Commissioner, through the State Fire Marshal Division, administers the Mississippi Fire Prevention Code. The Commissioner, through the Fire Service Development Division, establishes guidelines, use and accountability for municipal and county fire protection funds. The Commissioner administers the Liquefied Compressed Gas Equipment Law (Miss. Code Ann. § 75-57-1 et seq.) and enforces the National Fire Protection Association Code, Books 54 and 58."

Divisions

The Department of Insurance is under the control of the commissioner of insurance. As of February 2021, the department was divided into fourteen divisions, all of which report directly to the deputy commissioner:

• Office of the Commissioner
• Office of the Deputy Commissioner
• Administrative Services Division
• Consumer Services Division
• Financial and Market Regulation Division
• Information Technology Division
• Investigations and Consumer Protection Division
• Legal Division
• Licensing Division
• Life and Health Actuarial Division
• Mississippi State Fire Academy
• Property and Casualty Rating Division
• Public Relations Division
• State Fire Marshal's Office

State budget

See also: Mississippi state budget and finances

The Department of Insurance's budget for fiscal year 2025 was $22,068,556.

Compensation

See also: Compensation of state executive officers

2023

In 2023, the officer's salary was $90,000, according to the Council of State Governments.

2022

In 2022, the officer's salary was $90,000, according to the Council of State Governments.

2021

In 2021, the commissioner received a salary of $90,000, according to the Council of State Governments.

2020

In 2020, the insurance commissioner received a salary of $90,000, according to the Council of State Governments.

2019

In 2019, the insurance commissioner received a salary of $90,000, according to the Council of State Governments.

2018

In 2018, the insurance commissioner received a salary of $90,000, according to the Council of State Governments.

2017

In 2017, the insurance commissioner received a salary of $90,000, according to the Council of State Governments.

2016

In 2016, the insurance commissioner received a salary of $90,000, according to the Council of State Governments.

2015

In 2015, the insurance commissioner received a salary of $90,000, according to the Council of State Governments.

2014

In 2014, the commissioner was paid an estimated $90,000, according to the Council of State Governments.

2013

In 2013, the commissioner was paid an estimated $90,000, according to the Council of State Governments.

2012

In 2012, the commissioner was paid an estimated $85,500, according to the Council of State Governments.

Historical officeholders

Since 1903, Mississippi has had 11 officeholders.

Click "show" for historical officeholders.

Number	Name	Took office	Left office	Party
1	W.Q. Cole	1903	1908
2	T.M. Henry	1908	1928
3	Ben S. Lowry	1928	1932
4	George Riley	1932	1935
5	J.H. Johnson	1935	1936
6	John Sharp Williams, III	1936	1944
7	Jesse L. White	1944	1952
8	Walter Dell Davis	1952	1972
9	Evelyn Gandy	1972	1976
10	George Dale	1976	2008	Democrat
11	Mike Chaney	2008	Present	Republican

Recent news

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Mississippi Commissioner of Insurance. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

Mississippi Commissioner of Insurance - Google News

Contact information

Mailing Address: Mississippi Insurance Department
P.O. Box 79 Jackson, MS 39205-0079
Street Address: Mississippi Insurance Department
1001 Woolfolk State Office Building
501 North West St.
Jackson, MS 39201
Phone: 601-359-3569
Email: commissioner@mid.ms.gov

See also

• Mississippi state executive offices
• Mississippi state executive officials

External links

Suggest a link

• Mississippi Insurance Department - Office of the Commissioner