Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance, State Auditor
| Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance, State Auditor | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Partisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $100,545 |
| 2025 FY Budget: | $54,941,213 |
| Term limits: | Two terms in a 16-year period |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | 4 years |
| Authority: | Montana Constitution, Article VI, Section 1 the Executive Department |
| Selection Method: | Elected |
| Current Officeholder | |
Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance, State Auditor
Troy Downing | |
| Elections | |
| Next election: | November 5, 2024 |
| Last election: | November 3, 2020 |
| Other Montana Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Superintendent of Public Instruction • Agriculture Director • Insurance Commissioner • Natural Resources Director • Labor Commissioner • Public Service Commission | |
The Commissioner of Securities and Insurance, Montana State Auditor is an elected state executive position in the Montana state government.[1]
A 2006 ballot measure sought to rename the office of state auditor to insurance commissioner. The measure's legislative sponsors argued that renaming the office would prevent confusion, saying the Montana State Auditor does not audit in the traditional sense. The auditor's primary responsibility is to regulate the state's insurance industry. The measure was defeated by a margin of 64.1 percent to 35.9 percent.
Current officeholder
The current officeholder is Troy Downing (R). He won the general election on November 3, 2020, and was sworn into office on January 4, 2021.[2]
Authority
The state Constitution addresses the office of auditor in Article VI, the Executive Department.
Under Article VI, Section I:
|
The executive branch includes a governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, superintendent of public instruction, and auditor. |
Qualifications
A candidate for auditor must be:
- at least 25 years of age or older at the time of election
- a citizen of the United States
- have resided within the state at least two years at his election[3]
Elections
Article VI of the Montana State Constitution stipulates that the auditor is a publicly elected official who serves a term of four years. Terms begin the first Monday of January following election.
2024
General election candidates
- John Repke (Democratic Party)
- James Brown (Republican Party)
Democratic primary candidates
Did not make the ballot:
Republican primary candidates
Did not make the ballot:
= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey
2020
General election candidates
- Shane Morigeau (Democratic Party)
- Troy Downing (Republican Party) ✔
- Roger Roots (Libertarian Party)
= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey
Democratic primary candidates
= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey
Republican primary candidates
= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey
Minor Party primary candidates
Libertarian Party
This primary was canceled and this candidate advanced:
2016
The general election for commissioner of securities and insurance, auditor was held on November 8, 2016.
2012
Incumbent Monica Lindeen (D) successfully won re-election, defeating Derek Skees (R) in the November 6, 2012 general election.
| Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance, State Auditor General Election, 2012 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Monica Lindeen Incumbent |
53.5% | 248,447 | |
| Republican | Derek Skees | 46.5% | 215,743 | |
| Total Votes | 464,190 | |||
| Election results via Montana Secretary of State | ||||
Term limits
The state auditor cannot, according to Montana Constitution Article IV, Section 8, serve in office eight or more years in any 16-year period.
Vacancies
Details of vacancies are addressed under Article VI, Section 6.
If the auditor's office is vacant due to death, resignation, or disability, the governor shall appoint a new auditor.[4]
Duties
The state Constitution addresses the duties of the auditor in Article VI, Section 4.
Under Article VI, Section 4(5):
|
The superintendent of public instruction and the auditor shall have such duties as are provided by law. |
The commissioner's website provides an overview of the duties of the office:[5]
The Office of the Commissioner of Securities and Insurance, Montana State Auditor, is a criminal justice agency whose primary mission is to protect Montana's consumers through insurance and securities regulation. We work hard everyday to educate and assist the public about the wide range of issues in insurance and securities. We are committed to ensuring fairness, transparency and access in the securities and insurance industries.
Divisions
As of January 26, 2021, the Montana Office of the Auditor is organized into the following divisions:
- Insurance
- Securities
- Legal
- Centralized Services[6]
State budget
- See also: Montana state budget and finances
The Office of the State Auditor's budget for Fiscal Year 2025 was $54,941,213.[7]
Compensation
The state Constitution addresses compensation of executive officials in Article VI, Section 5.
Under Article VI, Section 5(1):
|
Officers of the executive branch shall receive salaries provided by law. |
2022
In 2022, the officer's salary was $100,545, according to the Council of State Governments.[8]
2021
In 2021, the auditor received a salary of $97,412, according to the Council of State Governments.[9]
2020
In 2020, the auditor received a salary of $92,236, according to the Council of State Governments.[10]
2019
In 2019, the auditor received a salary of $92,236, according to the Council of State Governments.[11]
2018
In 2018, the auditor received a salary of $92,236, according to the Council of State Governments.[12]
2017
In 2017, the auditor received a salary of $92,236, according to the Council of State Governments.[13]
2016
In 2016, the auditor’s salary was increased to $92,236, according to the Council of State Governments.[14]
2015
In 2015, the auditor received a salary $88,099, according to the Council of State Governments.[15]
2014
In 2014, the state auditor was paid an estimated $88,099, according to the Council of State Governments.[16]
2013
In 2013, the state auditor was paid an estimated $86,018, according to the Council of State Governments.[17]
2010
In 2010, the state auditor was paid an estimated $82,420, according to the Council of State Governments.[18]
Historical officeholders
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for chronological lists of historical officeholders; information for the Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance, State Auditor has not yet been added because the information was unavailable on the relevant state official websites, or we are currently in the process of formatting the list for this office. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Montana State Auditor. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
Contact information
Department Address
840 Helena Avenue
Helena, MT 59601
Phone: 406-444-2040
TTYD: 406-444-3246
Fax: 406-444-3497
See also
| Montana | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance, "About," accessed January 26, 2021
- ↑ Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance, "About," accessed January 26, 2021
- ↑ Montana Legislature, "Article VI", accessed January 26, 2021
- ↑ Montana Legislature, "Article VI," accessed January 26, 2021
- ↑ Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance, "Homepage," accessed December 3, 2011
- ↑ Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance, "About," accessed January 26, 2021
- ↑ Montana Legislature, "HB002," accessed December 6, 2023
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2022 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
- ↑ Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 22, 2022
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2020," accessed January 26, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2019," accessed January 26, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2018," accessed January 26, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2017," accessed January 26, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed December 3, 2014
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Table 4.11 Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 30, 2014
- ↑ The Council of State Governments, "The Book of States 2010 Table 4.11," accessed June 22, 2011
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