Louisiana’s Longest-Serving Insurance Commissioner To Exit Public Service

Louisiana State Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon announced Tuesday that he will not seek re-election.

The move comes as the state faces an insurance crisis with some major insurance companies withdrawing from writing policies in Louisiana, in large part due to several strong hurricanes causing billions in damage.

Donelon, who is 78 years old, said in a Zoom conference meeting Tuesday that he wants to "enjoy the remaining years of my life with my family."

He says he does not have a successor in mind and that his last nine months in office will be ‘action-packed.’ Donelon says he hasn’t had time to raise money for a campaign and that’s one of the reasons why he won’t run for re-election.

The commissioner also said he wanted to remove politics from the upcoming legislative session where many significant insurance issues affecting the state will be discussed and decided.