Mike Kreidler

Mike Kreidler

Democratic Party

Washington Commissioner of Insurance

Tenure

2001 - Present

Term ends

2025

Years in position

23

Prior offices

Washington House of Representatives

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Washington State Senate

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U.S. House of Representatives

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Compensation

Base salary

$137,700

Elections and appointments

Last elected

November 3, 2020

Education

Bachelor's

Pacific University, 1967

Graduate

University of California, Los Angeles, 1972

Other

Doctor of Optometry, Pacific University, 1969

Military

Service / branch

U.S. Army

Personal

Profession

Optometrist

Contact

Official website

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Personal Facebook

Personal Instagram

Personal LinkedIn

Mike Kreidler (Democratic Party) is the Washington Commissioner of Insurance. He assumed office on January 10, 2001. His current term ends on January 15, 2025.

Kreidler (Democratic Party) ran for re-election for Washington Commissioner of Insurance. He won in the general election on November 3, 2020.

Biography

Email editor@ballotpedia.org to notify us of updates to this biography.

An optometrist by profession, Kreidler practiced at Group Health Cooperative for 20 years and also served in the United States Army for 20 years. Kreidler has been a member of the Northwest Power Planning Council and a regional director for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

He began his elected political career as a member of the Washington House of Representatives in 1977. Kreider went on to serve in the state Senate from 1985-1992 and in the United States House of Representatives from 1993-1994. He was first elected as Washington Commissioner of Insurance in 2000 and has served in that role since.

Education

• B.S., Pacific University, 1967
• Master's in Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, 1972
• Doctor of Optometry, Pacific University, 1969

Political career

Washington Insurance Commissioner (2001 - Present)

Kreidler has served as Washington Commissioner of Insurance since 2001.

Elections

2024

See also: Washington Commissioner of Insurance

Mike Kreidler did not file to run for re-election.

2020

See also: Washington Insurance Commissioner election, 2020

General election

General election for Washington Commissioner of Insurance

Incumbent Mike Kreidler defeated Chirayu Avinash Patel in the general election for Washington Commissioner of Insurance on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Mike Kreidler (D)	65.4	2,506,693
		Chirayu Avinash Patel (R)	34.1	1,308,292
		Other/Write-in votes	0.5	18,576

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 3,833,561
= 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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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Washington Commissioner of Insurance

Incumbent Mike Kreidler and Chirayu Avinash Patel defeated Anthony Welti in the primary for Washington Commissioner of Insurance on August 4, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Mike Kreidler (D)	59.0	1,402,650
✔		Chirayu Avinash Patel (R)	27.1	644,446
		Anthony Welti (L)	13.7	324,921
		Other/Write-in votes	0.2	4,220

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 2,376,237
= 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.

2016

Main article: Washington Insurance Commissioner election, 2016

General election

Incumbent Mike Kreidler defeated Richard Schrock in the Washington insurance commissioner election.

Washington Insurance Commissioner, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Mike Kreidler Incumbent	58.34%	1,763,134
	Republican	Richard Schrock	41.66%	1,258,827
Total Votes				3,021,961
Source: Washington Secretary of State

Primary election

Kreidler has filed to run for re-election as a Democratic candidate in the 2016 election for Washington commissioner of insurance. He competed with Republican Richard Schrock and Libertarian Justin Murta in the August 2 top-two primary election.

Incumbent Mike Kreidler and Richard Schrock defeated Justin Murta in the Washington primary for insurance commissioner.

Washington primary for insurance commissioner, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Mike Kreidler Incumbent	58.41%	772,569
	Republican	Richard Schrock	34.09%	450,830
	Libertarian	Justin Murta	7.50%	99,181
Total Votes				1,322,580
Source: Washington Secretary of State

Campaign finance

Mike Kreidler Campaign Finance Reports
Report	Date Filed	Beginning Balance	Total Contributions for Reporting Period	Expenditures	Cash on Hand
To date	As of August 2, 2016	$	$91,542.13	$(20,779.73)	$
			Running totals
			$91,542.13	$(20,779.73)

2012

See also: Washington down ballot state executive elections, 2012

Kreidler won re-election in 2012. He faced John Adams, Scott Reilly (R) and Brian C. Berend (I) in the blanket primary on August 7. Kreidler and Adams advanced to the general election. On November 6, 2012, Kreidler defeated Adams in the general election.

Washington Commissioner of Insurance General Election, 2012
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Mike Kreidler Incumbent	58.3%	1,662,555
	Republican	John Adams	41.7%	1,188,926
Total Votes				2,851,481
Election results via Washington Secretary of State

Primary

Washington Insurance Commissioner, Primary, 2012
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Mike Kreidler	54.9%	712,095
	Republican	John R. Adams	21.5%	279,052
	Republican	Scott Reilly	18.6%	241,377
	Independent	Brian C. Berend	5%	64,303
Total Votes				1,296,827
Election results via Washington Secretary of State (dead link)'

2008

Kreidler won a third term in November 2008, defeating Republican John Adams.

Washington Commissioner of Insurance, 2008
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Mike Kreidler Incumbent	61.4%	1,679,696
	Republican	John R. Adams	38.6%	1,056,693
Total Votes				2,736,389

2004

On November 2, 2004, Mike Kreidler won re-election to the office of Washington Commissioner of Insurance. He defeated John Adams (R) and Stephen D. Steele (L) in the general election.

Washington Commissioner of Insurance, 2004
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Mike Kreidler Incumbent	54.5%	1,393,764
	Republican	John Adams	41.4%	1,058,583
	Libertarian	Stephen D. Steele	4.2%	107,295
Total Votes				2,559,642
Election results via Washington Secretary of State.

2000

On November 7, 2000, Mike Kreidler won election to the office of Washington Commissioner of Insurance. He defeated Don Davidson (R) and Mike Hihn (L) in the general election.

Washington Commissioner of Insurance, 2000
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Mike Kreidler	53.4%	1,174,039
	Republican	Don Davidson	42.4%	933,568
	Libertarian	Mike Hihn	4.2%	92,185
Total Votes				2,199,792
Election results via Washington Secretary of State.

Campaign themes

2020

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Mike Kreidler did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

2016

Kreidler's campaign website outlined his priorities as follows:

“

Continue our work on health care reform: Washington has made incredible strides in its health care system since Congress passed the Affordable Care Act in 2010. The uninsured rate has dropped to a record low with more than 900,000 state residents gaining coverage. Premiums have been kept down at the same time. I will continue my leadership to ensure the full promise of health care reform – better health care at lower cost. I’ve also worked hard to bring increased transparency and consumer protections to Washington’s health insurance market, ensuring that consumers have access to the care they paid for. I will continue to work with our partners to ensure that new health plans expand to every corner of our state. Ensure consumers get a fair deal: My primary duty is to protect consumers. Insurance is a big business – bringing in over $30 billion annually to the state. My office is committed to helping individual consumers whose claims have been unfairly delayed or denied. Since 2001, my office has helped consumers recover an average of $10 million every year from insurance companies. Protect the environment:Consumers need insurance policies that will protect their property from the harmful effects of climate change. I have been at the forefront of making sure that insurance companies recognize the risks posed by climate change and protect their policyholders. I will continue to be vocal on this issue as the head of the climate change forum for the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Maintain a healthy business climate: Insurance is an important industry in Washington. I’ve earned a reputation as a fair and balanced regulator. I will continue my work to make sure consumers get the protection they need and that those who earn a living in the insurance business are treated fairly.

”

Campaign finance summary

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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.

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Mike Kreidler campaign contribution history

Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2012	WA Insurance Commissioner	Won	$141,499	N/A**
2008	WA Insurance Commissioner	Won	$141,914	N/A**
2004	WA Insurance Commissioner	Won	$172,816	N/A**
2000	WA Insurance Commissioner	Won	$301,169	N/A**
Grand total			$757,398	N/A**
Sources: OpenSecrets,  Federal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

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Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by -	Washington Commissioner of Insurance 2001-Present	Succeeded by -
Preceded by -	U.S. House of Representatives 1993-1995	Succeeded by -
Preceded by -	Washington State Senate 1985-1992	Succeeded by -
Preceded by -	Washington House of Representatives 1977-1985	Succeeded by -