‘Inappropriate’ texts from NC insurance commissioner draw heat from Democrats
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- The News & Observer published texts from a former employee showing suggestive comments.
- Former employee April Taylor resigned in February and provided texts alleging misconduct.
- Some Democrats called Causey’s conduct inappropriate and urged investigation.
Democrats are starting to weigh in on texts The News & Observer obtained from a former state insurance department employee that raise concerns about Republican N.C. Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey’s treatment of women in the workplace.
April Taylor, an eight-year employee in the department who left in March, shared texts showing Causey commenting suggestively about her looks. “I might jump your bones. Watch out!!!,” one text reads.
Causey told The N&O in an interview before publication that he does not recall making the texts. He also denied seeking hugs and kisses from Taylor. In one text exchange he said he went into her office for a hug, and she responded, “And a kiss!”
Taylor told The N&O that she won the job through a political connection. Her great-uncle was a big Causey supporter. A text exchange shows Causey telling Taylor she could write her own job description. She had no experience in insurance.
Onotse Omoyeni, a spokesperson for Gov. Josh Stein, a Raleigh Democrat, said in a statement that Stein “believes that everyone deserves to be safe and free from harassment at work.”
“The allegations against Commissioner Causey are deeply troubling and are inappropriate,” she said.
Taylor has asked several state officials and agencies to investigate the Department of Insurance over claims of improper political activity in the workplace and a failure to follow procedures in re-licensing bail bond agents. The only response she said she received was an acknowledgment from the state auditor’s office.
State Senate Democratic Leader Sydney Batch said in an email message that State Auditor Dave Boliek should be investigating Taylor’s claims. Batch noted her colleagues in the GOP-controlled legislature gave his office more money to expand investigations.
“He has had no shortage of opinions about agencies, state employees, and programs across this state,” Batch said of Boliek, a Republican. “But when an actual state employee comes forward alleging misconduct by a fellow statewide Republican official, suddenly the appetite for investigation disappears.”
Randy Brechbiel, a spokesperson for Boliek, did not respond to an N&O request for comment.
Causey gained a reputation as a straight arrow after insurance company owner Greg Lindberg was charged in 2019 with trying to bribe him. Causey secretly recorded his conversations with Lindberg to help convict him. Last week, Lindberg was sentenced to 12 years in prison for a $2 billion fraud scheme that cheated thousands of policy holders.
But some of Causey’s moves in managing the insurance department struck critics as “good ol’ boy” politics.
In late 2023, The N&O reported Causey had hired several people with personal or political connections to regional director jobs that did not exist before he took office. He also closed three regional offices in Charlotte, Asheville and Wilmington, while opening several in smaller communities that lean Republican.
In early 2024, The N&O reported that Causey hired drivers to take him around North Carolina, and as far away as Park City, Utah, on state business. Causey has said he can be more efficient with a driver.
Four road trips included stops in the small town of Portales, New Mexico. One of those drivers is a longtime friend and supporter who made $84,000 in one year and had been given the job title of a deputy secretary/commissioner.
Brechbiel in an earlier message said the auditor’s office did not look into the staffing or travel. “Wasn’t on our radar,” he said.
Causey has not commented on The N&O’s story about his texts since publication. Barry Smith, his deputy communications director, told the Insurance Journal, a trade publication, that Causey couldn’t comment because it was a personnel matter with a former employee.
State law does not require the release of many personnel records, but it does give state agencies the option to release records to show they are operating with integrity.
The N&O has asked Causey to produce his texts with Taylor. Smith said the department continues to work on that request.
The N&O’s report was published just as state lawmakers took up legislation to limit the governor’s power to pick a replacement if a member of the Council of State steps down. That replacement would only serve until the next election.
House Democratic Leader Robert Reives made a comment in a committee meeting that suggested he thought movement on the bill was in response to the news report about Causey. The Assembly first reported his comments.
He later told The Assembly and The N&O his remarks weren’t related to Causey and the texts. He declined to comment on the texts to The N&O.
House Speaker Destin Hall also denied to The Assembly that Causey’s texts had prompted movement on the bill. Senate leader Phil Berger had no comment on Causey’s texts when The Assembly asked.
Neither Hall nor Berger responded to an N&O reporter’s call and text message about Causey’s texts.
On Sunday, Carolina Forward, a left-leaning nonprofit think tank based in Carrboro, weighed in on social media, saying the texts “show an obvious and very gross pattern of sexual harassment and cringey misconduct.
”He should resign immediately.”
This story was originally published June 2, 2026 at 5:30 AM with the headline "‘Inappropriate’ texts from NC insurance commissioner draw heat from Democrats."