Insurance commissioner: Causey wins GOP nomination

Mike Causey, in his fifth run for N.C. insurance commissioner, defeated Joe McLaughlin and Ronald Pierce in Tuesday’s Republican primary.

Causey will face Democratic incumbent Wayne Goodwin in November’s general election. Goodwin had no primary opposition in his bid for a third term.

With about 79 percent of precincts reporting, Causey had 41.01 percent compared with McLaughlin’s 33.02 percent and Pierce’s 25.96 percent.

Causey is a retired insurance agent and lobbyist from Greensboro. McLaughlin is a certified financial planner from Jacksonville. Pierce, of Charlotte, is a general contractor.

The insurance commissioner’s office is responsible for regulating insurance companies and agents operating in North Carolina. The commissioner also serves as state fire marshal.

The office has been held by a Democrat since North Carolina’s first commissioner took the post in 1899.

This story was originally published March 15, 2016 at 8:18 PM with the headline "Insurance commissioner: Causey wins GOP nomination."