Oklahoma voters will decide on August 25 who will represent the Republican Party in the race for insurance commissioner, with Bob Sullivan and Marty Quinn competing for the nomination. The insurance commissioner oversees a wide range of policies that affect nearly every resident in the state.

Candidates’ Plans

Both Sullivan and Quinn bring decades of experience in the insurance industry. Sullivan emphasized his commitment to restoring trust and accountability, saying, “I’m the candidate that’s going to bring trust and accountability back to the market.” Quinn highlighted his focus on serving Oklahomans, stating, “We’re going to focus on the people of Oklahoma. That’s where our focus is going to be.”

Quinn pointed to his experience as chairman of the Senate Insurance Committee as a key advantage, saying, “If we’re going to change the way that companies operate in the state, it is going to go through that legislative process, and we have an advantage there.” Sullivan underscored his broad experience across multiple areas of insurance, saying, “You have to have that perspective at the entire ecosystem of insurance in Oklahoma, because the insurance commissioner regulates surety bonds, bail bonds, property appraisers, and a number of other things outside of just traditional insurance.”

Addressing Affordability and Accountability

With Oklahoma frequently facing costly weather disasters and ongoing litigation over roof claims, both candidates shared their plans to address affordability and accountability in the insurance market. Sullivan proposed increasing competition among carriers, saying, “I think affordability is going to be brought in and improved dramatically. If we can increase competition and get the current carriers riding in the state of Oklahoma, that may be on the sidelines and not actively writing policies to get them reengaged.” Quinn emphasized the importance of preventing out-of-state bad actors from exploiting Oklahomans after severe weather events.

Questions about Quinn’s eligibility to run for office have surfaced due to his time spent in Arkansas from late 2022 to early 2025. Oklahoma law requires candidates to have lived in the state for at least five years. Quinn addressed the issue, saying, “We went back for family. That’s the reason that we went back. The statute says that I can run for office. The Constitution says I can run for office.”

Original reporting: Oklahoma City News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.