Insurance and Fire Safety Commissioner Georgia in Statewide, Georgia

2026 Primary Election

• John Franklin King — Incumbent Insurance and Fire Safety Commissioner in Atlanta, GA

  John Franklin King serves as Georgia's Incumbent Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner, holding the distinction of being the first Hispanic elected to statewide office in Georgia history. A decorated retired major general and former police chief, he is actively seeking re-election in 2026 to continue the work he began six years ago, advocating for everyday Georgians. His campaign focuses on key issues such as recovering taxpayer money, holding the powerful accountable, implementing lawsuit reform, and strengthening local partnerships. He identifies himself as a lawman and soldier rather than a professional politician.

• Ambuj "aj" Jain — Entrepreneur | Investor | Nonprofit Founder in Atlanta, Georgia, GA

  Ambuj "AJ" Jain is a Democratic candidate for Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner in the 2026 primary election. He holds multiple graduate degrees, including a Ph.D. from the State University of New York at Buffalo. His professional background includes co-founding DXM, founding an investments and advisory firm (2 Pillars LLC), and serving as Chief Underwriting Officer at American Safety Insurance Holdings. Jain is running to lower household costs and protect families from a system he believes is stacked against them. His policy stances include outlawing ZIP code and credit score-based pricing, holding insurers accountable for claim denials, and advocating for full Medicaid expansion in Georgia.

• Clarence Blalock — Small business owner, GIS analyst, and IT consultant in Hiram, Georgia, GA

  Clarence Blalock is a Democratic candidate running for Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner in the May 19, 2026, primary. Born in Atlanta, Georgia, he earned bachelor's and graduate degrees from Jacksonville State University. His professional background includes experience as a GIS analyst, IT consultant, and small business owner. Blalock advocates for making insurance affordable, proposing increased fines for companies violating laws, and ensuring the department is accountable to the public rather than the insurance industry. He has 10 years of experience in local government, including five years with the City of Smyrna, and has worked on coordinated campaigns for the Democratic Party of Georgia. He is a resident of Paulding County.

• Deandre Bernard Mathis — Insurance agency owner in Decatur, GA, GA

  Deandre Mathis, a Democratic candidate for Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner in 2026, is a U.S. Navy veteran and insurance agency owner. He earned a high school diploma from Frederick Douglass High School and a graduate degree from Georgia State University. Mathis campaigns on a platform of insurance reform, advocating for a consumer-focused agenda that prioritizes policyholders over executives. His proposals include modernizing fire safety standards for multi-family housing and rural communities, and restoring the regulatory authority of the Insurance Commissioner's office to oversee rate increases and aggressively use enforcement tools against unfair practices. He positions himself as an industry insider committed to challenging the system and ensuring fairness for all Georgians.

• Keisha Sean Waites — FEMA Operations and Intergovernmental Affairs leadership in Atlanta, GA

  Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Keisha Sean Waites is a Democratic candidate for Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner in 2026. Her professional experience includes leadership roles in operations, legislative, governmental, and external affairs at FEMA, where she has worked since 2005. Waites previously served on the Atlanta City Council from 2022 to 2024 and in the Georgia House of Representatives from 2012 to 2017. Her campaign focuses on delivering relief to Georgia families facing high insurance premiums, advocating for an end to ZIP code and credit score-based premiums, and creating a task force to investigate scams targeting vulnerable residents.

• Thomas Gabriel Dean — Candidate for Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner in GA

  Thomas Dean is a Democratic Party candidate running for election as Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner. He is listed on the ballot for the Democratic primary, scheduled to take place on May 19, 2026. Dean is one of several candidates seeking the Democratic nomination for this state executive position. Should he secure the nomination, he would advance to the general election, which is set for November 3, 2026.