Zurich’s North America Government & Industry Affairs Pre-Election Analysis
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On November 8, Americans will go to the polls to elect a new President, 34 U.S. Senators, and 435 U.S. Representatives. At the state level, 12 governors, five insurance commissioners and legislators in 86 of the 99 state legislative chambers will be elected (Nebraska has only one chamber which is why the total is not 100).
Seventeen Republicans declared their candidacy for the Republican nomination for President, the largest presidential primary field for any party in U.S. history. After the primary season, businessman Donald J. Trump emerged as the Republican nominee. On the Democratic side, former First Lady, Senator and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton defeated Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders to emerge as the Democratic nominee. Also of interest will be which party gains or maintains control of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, with many individual races too close to call at this point.
We are just weeks away from election day. While Zurich does not take a position in presidential races, we do actively participate in the political process. Zurich attended both the Republican and Democratic National Conventions this summer, raising Zurich’s visibility and policy positions with elected officials in both parties. (See our blog on the Conventions HERE)
At the Congressional level and the state level, Zurich supports policymakers on both sides of the aisle. Zurich’s North America Government & Industry Affairs’ (GAIA) goal throughout is to promote Zurich’s business objectives and the need for a competitive and efficient insurance market. We strive to develop and maintain relationships with key lawmakers and regulators, regardless of their party affiliations, with whom we can work and advocate for our business objectives and public policy positions.
Here’s a little more detail on what’s in play on November 8:
U.S. Congress
In the Senate there are 24 Republican seats and 10 Democratic seats up for re-election. The Democrats would need to pick up five seats in the Senate to regain the majority they lost in 2014. All 435 House seats are once again up for re-election. The Democrats would need to gain 30 seats in order to take control of the House.
Governors
Governors will be elected in 12 states (see below). In five states, the incumbent governor is running for re-election, while the remaining are open races. Democrats currently hold eight of the 12 governorships up for election. There are currently 18 Democratic governors, 31 Republicans and one Independent.
- Delaware
- Indiana
- Missouri
- Montana
- New Hampshire
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Oregon
- Utah
- Vermont
- Washington
- West Virginia
Insurance Commissioners
Insurance Commissioners are appointed in all but 11 states, where they are elected. This year, five states will elect an insurance commissioner: Delaware, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota and Washington.
State Legislative Chambers
86 of the 99 state legislative chambers will hold elections, including 1,210 seats in state senates and 4,710 seats in state houses. Altogether, 80 percent of the country’s state legislative seats are up for election. Of those, only 57 percent feature two major party candidates.
Zurich’s North America Government & Industry Affairs Pre-Election Analysis
Share this
On November 8, Americans will go to the polls to elect a new President, 34 U.S. Senators, and 435 U.S. Representatives. At the state level, 12 governors, five insurance commissioners and legislators in 86 of the 99 state legislative chambers will be elected (Nebraska has only one chamber which is why the total is not 100).
Seventeen Republicans declared their candidacy for the Republican nomination for President, the largest presidential primary field for any party in U.S. history. After the primary season, businessman Donald J. Trump emerged as the Republican nominee. On the Democratic side, former First Lady, Senator and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton defeated Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders to emerge as the Democratic nominee. Also of interest will be which party gains or maintains control of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, with many individual races too close to call at this point.
We are just weeks away from election day. While Zurich does not take a position in presidential races, we do actively participate in the political process. Zurich attended both the Republican and Democratic National Conventions this summer, raising Zurich’s visibility and policy positions with elected officials in both parties. (See our blog on the Conventions HERE)
At the Congressional level and the state level, Zurich supports policymakers on both sides of the aisle. Zurich’s North America Government & Industry Affairs’ (GAIA) goal throughout is to promote Zurich’s business objectives and the need for a competitive and efficient insurance market. We strive to develop and maintain relationships with key lawmakers and regulators, regardless of their party affiliations, with whom we can work and advocate for our business objectives and public policy positions.
Here’s a little more detail on what’s in play on November 8:
U.S. Congress
In the Senate there are 24 Republican seats and 10 Democratic seats up for re-election. The Democrats would need to pick up five seats in the Senate to regain the majority they lost in 2014. All 435 House seats are once again up for re-election. The Democrats would need to gain 30 seats in order to take control of the House.
Governors
Governors will be elected in 12 states (see below). In five states, the incumbent governor is running for re-election, while the remaining are open races. Democrats currently hold eight of the 12 governorships up for election. There are currently 18 Democratic governors, 31 Republicans and one Independent.
- Delaware
- Indiana
- Missouri
- Montana
- New Hampshire
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Oregon
- Utah
- Vermont
- Washington
- West Virginia
Insurance Commissioners
Insurance Commissioners are appointed in all but 11 states, where they are elected. This year, five states will elect an insurance commissioner: Delaware, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota and Washington.
State Legislative Chambers
86 of the 99 state legislative chambers will hold elections, including 1,210 seats in state senates and 4,710 seats in state houses. Altogether, 80 percent of the country’s state legislative seats are up for election. Of those, only 57 percent feature two major party candidates.
