A group of four Republicans and a Democrat are running to succeed Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner Glen Mulready (pictured), who is barred from seeking re-election after reaching his term limit.
The race comes as the state’s homeowners’ market faces mounting pressure from severe weather, rising reinsurance costs and political scrutiny over affordability and oversight.
According to a report from BestWire, Craig MacIntyre, the sole Democratic candidate, has worked in the insurance sector off and on since 1993, primarily on the carrier side in actuarial, product development, risk management, and legislative and government relations.
MacIntyre said he began considering a run for commissioner nine months ago but initially dismissed the idea because of time and family constraints. That changed as the candidate filing deadline approached and no Democrat or independent candidate had entered the race.
“In a state where half of the population is not registered as a Republican, that meant half of the registered voters in Oklahoma would have no say in the future of this office and to the point, the direction of insurance regulation and oversight at a time when this industry is in crisis,” MacIntyre said.
He identified affordability and capacity as the two biggest issues facing Oklahoma’s insurance sector.
“While there has been much made in the news regarding claims practices of insurance companies, and this is an incredibly important issue, we are fast approaching a time where homeownership, the ability to drive, to afford medical care and even business' ability to continue to operate in Oklahoma will be in serious jeopardy,” he said. “We need a new approach to not only protect consumers and regulate premiums, but to also enable companies to operate within Oklahoma without risk of failing.”
Oklahoma now has some of the highest average homeowners’ premiums in the US, with rates rising sharply in recent years on the back of severe convective storms, inflation and higher reinsurance costs. State data indicate that double-digit increases in homeowners’ premiums are continuing into 2025, well above wage growth and broader inflation.
Republican candidate Chris Merideth has spent his career inside the insurance ecosystem, saying he has seen first-hand where the system works and where it is breaking down for consumers, agents and carriers.
“Oklahoma is at a critical point, and I believe it requires leadership grounded in real industry experience, not just theory or politics,” Merideth said in an email.
He described the state’s challenges as “multifaceted” and pointed to structural pressures, the increasing frequency and severity of catastrophes, growing reinsurance costs, litigation trends and inefficiencies within claims and repair ecosystems.
“Where I believe I offer a different perspective is in understanding that effective regulation is not about choosing sides. It's about making a market function properly,” Merideth said. “Too often, discussions around insurance become oversimplified, focusing on one segment of the industry rather than addressing the full system.”
If elected, he said he would focus on mitigation and resiliency strategies aimed at reducing losses and improving long-term affordability. He would also prioritize competition by ensuring oversight allows for rate adequacy while protecting consumers and system-wide accountability.
Republican candidate Bob Sullivan would also bring an insurance background to the commissioner role. According to his campaign website, Sullivan is certified as an insurance counsellor and risk manager, a chartered property/casualty underwriter and an associate in fidelity and surety bonding.
Sullivan he has seen carriers leave the state, leaving some industries with only one insurer option and contributing to higher home insurance rates, his campaign site said, adding that he is running to restore competition, reduce costs and improve the claims experience.
“Our goal is simple: make Oklahoma one of the best states in America for affordable, reliable insurance — where families can protect what they’ve built and businesses can grow without being punished by premiums,” Sullivan said in a campaign statement.
Continuing the industry-experience trend, Republican candidate Greta Shuler has a background in insurance sales and business management, according to her campaign website. She has also served as a councilwoman at local level.
If elected, her stated priorities would include rate fairness and transparency, consumer education and advocacy, scrutiny of price optimisation, community partnerships and disaster preparedness.
Marty Quinn, another Republican candidate, previously served in both chambers of Oklahoma’s Legislature and chaired the Senate Insurance Committee, according to his campaign website. He also has private-sector experience, having spent more than 40 years growing a local insurance agency.
If elected, Quinn would focus on ways to drive competition, improve transparency and accountability and improve claims processes, his campaign website said. He would also work to stop insurers from dropping homeowners’ policies because of roof age or a single claim, and has positioned himself as a supporter of tort reform. Attempts to obtain further comment from Quinn, Shuler and Sullivan were unsuccessful.
Whoever wins will inherit a market under strain from both natural catastrophe losses and political pressure, according to the report.
Oklahoma sees frequent severe convective storms, including hail and tornadoes, and recent seasons have been described by analysts as historically active. Those events, coupled with higher rebuilding costs and reinsurance pressures, have been cited by Mulready as key drivers of current rate increases.
The state’s regulatory model has also drawn criticism. Oklahoma’s “file-and-use” system means most homeowners’ rate filings take effect without prior approval unless the commissioner has declared the market non-competitive, limiting the department’s ability to block increases.
In 2025, Attorney General Gentner Drummond publicly called current homeowners’ rates “unacceptable” and urged Mulready to revisit how the department oversees pricing and market conduct.
Mulready has responded in part by working with lawmakers on a legislative package that includes a proposed Homeowner Bill of Rights, tougher timelines for claim handling and a requirement for insurers to offer discounts for homes built or retrofitted to Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety Fortified standards. A separate mitigation grant scheme allows homeowners to apply for state funds to help pay for storm-hardening upgrades, the report said.
Oklahoma is scheduled to hold its primary on June 16 and, if necessary, a primary run-off on August 25. The general election is set for Nov. 3.
The winning candidate will succeed Mulready, who was first elected in 2018 and re-elected in 2022. Before serving as commissioner, he was a state House majority leader and an insurance industry professional.
