NCDP Chair Wayne Goodwin Tweets Reads Like Campaign Ad for 2020 NC Insurance Commissioner

RALEIGH – The chairman of the N.C. Democratic Party, Wayne Goodwin, didn’t exactly want his current job. He seemed quite comfortable as the multi-term N.C. Commissioner of Insurance until Republican Mike Causey booted him out of office in 2016. Although Goodwin has now presided over a record fundraising cycle that contributed to Democrats making serious dents in the Republican legislative majority, he appears to me campaigning to get his old job back.

Day #2 of participation in long term care, flood, auto, & homeowners insurance discussions w/ 18+ states. Only fmr/current Insurance Commissioner present (other than FL host). Continuing my pursuit of low, fair rates & easier access to coverage. #ncpol #OIRSummit @naic #consumer pic.twitter.com/gIAKvJRiIF

— Wayne Goodwin (@WayneGoodwinNC) January 16, 2019

As the former NC Insurance Commissioner, I encourage renters to buy this type of insurance, advice I also gave while serving. It’s a smart move & inexpensive. Do your research to determine the best company for you.@naic #consumer @iiiorg @NCCapitol #ncpol https://t.co/a5FAi7dltd

— Wayne Goodwin (@WayneGoodwinNC) January 16, 2019

So why would the NCDP chair be so intimately interested in insurance rates, and letting the public know about it, unless he planned to run again in 2020? Further, after what ended up being a pretty darn successful election cycle for Democrats in 2018 (broke Republican super-majority, stacked high and low courts with progressive judges) why would he want to return to the relatively boring world of regulating insurance rates?

Well, while the political party gig may stuffing the Democrats’ campaign coffers, it may not be paying his bills. The chair doesn’t seem to receive much in the way of salary, and not every party chair is worth a few hundred million dollars like NCGOP chairman Robin Hayes, so Goodwin may simply be looking to earn a paycheck again.

Time will tell, but tweets like this make a 2020 ‘Causey v. Goodwin 2.0’ race seem very likely.