Republican Steve Poizner won the insurance commissioner's postin California, turning back a challenge from Lt. Gov. CruzBustamante.

In other races, incumbent insurance commissioners kept theirjobs in Kansas, Oklahoma and Georgia.

Mr. Poizner rode the coattails of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger,and also benefited from a lack of enthusiasm from traditionalDemocratic quarters for Mr. Bustamante.

Proposition 103 author Harvey Rosenfield surprised politicalobservers with his endorsement of the GOP candidate, primarily onthe issue of campaign funding. Mr. Bustamante accepted and laterreturned $150,000 in insurance industry contributions after publicpressure.

Democratic incumbent John Garamendi is currently leading in hiseffort to move up to the lieutenant governor's post.

In Oklahoma, incumbent Democrat Kim Holland survived a nastyrace to defeat state lawmaker Bill Case. Ms. Holland was the targetof some sharp advertisements from out of state and from the Casecamp, questioning her ethics and qualifications for office.

Kansas GOP incumbent Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger,currently vice president of the National Association of InsuranceCommissioners, bucked a Democratic trend in her state, retainingthe post she has held for the past four years. Her predecessor andformer NAIC president, Democrat Kathleen Sebelius, rode to an easyvictory as governor. Jim R. Ryun (R-2nd) was defeated in his bidfor re-election to the House of Representatives.

Georgia GOP Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine wonre-election, defeating Democrat Guy Drexinger. Earlier this year,he considered running for lieutenant governor, in a race thatgained national attention when evangelical Christian Ralph Reedlost in the GOP primary.

In New York and Ohio, Democratic gubernatorial candidates tookthe statehouses from GOP hands. New commissioners more than likelywill be coming on board next year.

And in a state that faces crucial insurance questions in thecoming years–Florida–Democratic Alex Sink turned back a challengefrom Tom Lee for the recently created post of chief financialofficer, who in turn will appoint the state's insurancecommissioner.