Mike Winsor

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Mike Winsor

Democratic Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

June 2, 2020

Education

Bachelor's

Pratt Institute, 1991

Law

Oklahoma City University School of Law, 1997

Personal

Birthplace

Bozeman, Mont.

Religion

Christian

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Twitter

Mike Winsor (Democratic Party) ran for election for Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance, State Auditor. He lost in the Democratic primary on June 2, 2020.

Winsor completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Mike Winsor was born in Bozeman, Montana. He earned a B.F.A. from the Pratt Institute in 1991 and a J.D. from Oklahoma City University School of Law in 1997. Winsor’s career experience includes working as an attorney and counselor at law and as an insurance and securities regulator.

Elections

2020

See also: Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance, Auditor election, 2020

General election

General election for Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance, State Auditor

Troy Downing defeated Shane Morigeau and Roger Roots in the general election for Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance, State Auditor on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Troy Downing (R)	55.3	326,742
		Shane Morigeau (D)	39.4	232,634
		Roger Roots (L)	5.3	31,267

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 590,643
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance, State Auditor

Shane Morigeau defeated Mike Winsor in the Democratic primary for Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance, State Auditor on June 2, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Shane Morigeau	61.3	78,608
		Mike Winsor	38.7	49,601

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 128,209
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance, State Auditor

Troy Downing defeated Scott Tuxbury and Nelly Nicol in the Republican primary for Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance, State Auditor on June 2, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Troy Downing	50.0	97,498
		Scott Tuxbury	29.9	58,227
		Nelly Nicol	20.2	39,312

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 195,037
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Libertarian primary election

The Libertarian primary election was canceled. Roger Roots advanced from the Libertarian primary for Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance, State Auditor.

Campaign themes

2020

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Mike Winsor completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Winsor's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Mike Winsor has over 22 years of experience as a consumer advocate as an attorney and a thirteen-year veteran of the State Auditor's Office. He has the kind of experience that matters for running a governmental agency charged with protecting Montana insurance consumers and investors. Mike has fought fraud and gotten millions of dollars in restitution for Montana citizens. Mike is a fifth generation Montanan. Mike Winsor has the expertise and the kind of experience that matters for running an agency that oversees the complicated and highly regulated insurance and securities industries. Mike Winsor prosecuted and convicted numerous offenders guilty of committing insurance fraud, securities fraud, and financial exploitation of senior citizens. Mike Winsor believes that we all deserve to have our claims paid and be protected from fraud. Mike Winsor believes that we all deserve access to quality, affordable healthcare and prescription medications. Mike has fought against unfair trade practices and unfair methods of competition in the insurance industry. Mike Winsor believes that public lands should remain in public hands.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Mike Winsor is a Consumer Advocate, an Attorney, and a 13-year veteran of the State Auditor's Office with the kind of experience that matters.
• Mike Winsor will protect the rights of Montana insurance consumers, and Montana investors.
• Mike Winsor will fight to keep Public Land in Public Hands.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Insurance, Securities, Public Lands

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?

This office oversees the complex and highly regulated industries of Insurance and Securities in the state of Montana.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I look up to Montana congress people like Mike Mansfield and Jeanette Rankin. I would like to be as valiant as Jeanette Rankin because she stood up for what she believed in the face of controversy and forged the way for American women.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

Plato's Republic would be a start.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Ethics. Qualification. Competence. Leadership. Experience.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I have the kind of experience that matters for the Office of the Montana State Auditor, Commissioner of Insurance, Securities Commissioner.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

To protect Montana insurance consumers and Montana investors.

What legacy would you like to leave?

A rebuilt agency again dedicated to the statutory mission of the office.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

I remember one of the moon landings. I was two or three.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My first job was a paperboy for the Independent Record. I had the job for a few years.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Rhythm of the Saints by Paul Simon.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Overcoming man's inhumanity towards man.

What responsibilities of this office do you personally consider the most important?

Protecting Montana insurance consumers and Montana investors.

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

The elected official that heads this office is a member of the Montana Land Board which oversee the administration of trust lands for the benefit of Montana education.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?

Absolutely.

What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?

In-depth knowledge of all the areas of the insurance industry and the securities industry. Including company solvency, licensing, market conduct, consumer complaint handling, fraud prosecution, negotiation, predictive rating models, privacy laws, knowledge of the Montana Insurance Code and the Securities Act of Montana, knowledge of governmental ethics law, knowledge of contract law. Knowledge of Montana laws relating to forms and form approval. Knowledge of the Captive Insurance Company industry. Skill in fraud investigations. Knowledge of the Montana Administrative Procedures Act. Knowledge of the Montana Unfair Trade Practices Act. Knowledge of Health insurance and the interplay between state and federal law. Knowledge of laws pertaining to property and casualty insurance. Knowledge of laws pertaining to surety insurance and title insurance, etc.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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