The race: Insurance Commissioner
Party affiliation: Democrat
The lane:
Keisha Waites believes the insurance commissioner must be an aggressive watchdog holding insurance companies accountable for their business practices and rates.
The basics:
Waites served three terms in the Georgia House of Representatives and later served in the Atlanta City Council. She has also worked on disaster recovery and emergency management efforts with agencies including FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Why she’s running:
Waites says Georgia consumers are facing a crisis of affordability, particularly with rising homeowners and automobile insurance premiums She is also presenting herself as someone with experience helping communities recover from disasters and economic hardship, which she says gives her insight into how insurance systems affect everyday Georgians.
What’s working:
Waites has strong name recognition in metro Atlanta from her years in the Legislature and on the Atlanta City Council. A message focused on rising insurance costs, which is a major concern for Georgia voters. Her ability to frame the Insurance Commissioner’s race around consumer pocketbook issues rather than regulatory policy.
The challenge:
Keisha Waites has experiences primarily in elected office rather than the insurance industry. Against a potential change agent like DeAndre’ Mathis, Waites must prove her legislative experience must outweigh her lack of experience working in the insurance industry. She also has a lengthy history of running for multiple offices. Lastly, Waites must convince voters that her interest in the Insurance Commissioner’s office is based in consumer advocacy and affordability concerns.
What to watch:
Can Waites build a coalition across rural Georgia, South Georgia and smaller communities that may be less familiar with her name ID?
