| Office | Insurance Commissioner of Louisiana |
|---|---|
| Governor | Kathleen Blanco Bobby Jindal John Bel Edwards |
| Term start | February 15, 2006 |
| Term end | January 8, 2024 |
| Predecessor | J. Robert Wooley |
| Successor | Tim Temple |
| State house 1 | Louisiana |
| District 1 | 98th |
| Term start 1 | January 1982 |
| Term end 1 | June 30, 2001 |
| Predecessor 1 | Charles Grisbaum |
| Successor 1 | Tom Capella |
| Birth name | James Joseph Donelon III |
| Birth date | December 14, 1944 (age 81) |
| Birth place | New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic (Before 1980) Republican (1980–present) |
| Spouse | Merilynn Boudreaux |
| Education | University of New Orleans (BA) Loyola University, New Orleans (JD) |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Unit | Louisiana Army National Guard |
| Mawards | Legion of Merit |
James Joseph Donelon III is an American politician. He served as the Louisiana Insurance Commissioner from 2006 to 2024.[1][2] He previously served as a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1981 to 2001.[3]
Early life and education
Donelon grew up in New Orleans and attended Jesuit High School. He received his bachelor's degree from the University of New Orleans and his Juris Doctor from the Loyola University New Orleans College of Law.[3]
Political career
Donelon began his career in public office serving on the Jefferson Parish Council from 1978 to 1980.[4] From 1982 to 2001, he served as a Republican member of the Louisiana House of Representatives. As a state lawmaker, he chaired the House Committee on Insurance and co-chaired the Republican Legislative Delegation.[4]
He ran for Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana in 1979 and for United States Senate in 1998, but he lost both races.[4][5]
In 2001, he was appointed deputy commissioner of the Louisiana Department of Insurance by then-Insurance Commissioner J. Robert Wooley. In February 2006, Wooley resigned to take a legal position with the firm Adams and Reese in Baton Rouge, and Donelon succeeded him in the position of Insurance Commissioner.[6] Donelon subsequently won the office in a special election held in the fall of 2006 by defeating Republican State Senator James David Cain of Beauregard Parish.[7]
While Insurance Commissioner, Donelon allowed a temporary rehabilitation, known as a "conservation proceeding", which gave Lighthouse Insurance time to raise $65 million in new capital investments despite the company reporting three straight years of net losses from 2020 storms in Louisiana. It was the first time in years that a Louisiana carrier had been covered by a conservation proceeding. In March 2022, Donelon signed an order placing Lighthouse Insurance in liquidation proceedings after its losses from Hurricane Ida.[8]
Donelon decided not to seek another term in the 2023 Louisiana elections.[9] He was succeeded by Tim Temple on January 8, 2024.[10]
In 2022, he was inducted into the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame[11]
Personal life
Donelon and his wife, Merilynn, have four daughters.
References
- ^ Ballard, Mark (October 12, 2019). "Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon weathers strong challenge". The Advocate. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
- ^ "Jim Donelon elected Commissioner of Insurance in Louisiana primary election". 14 October 2019.
- ^ "JAMES J. DONELON: Louisiana Commissioner of Insurance". Louisiana Department of Insurance. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
- ^ Ballard, Mark (September 23, 2019). "State insurance commissioner being challenged by insurance veteran". The Advocate. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
- ^ "Louisiana primary election returns, September 30, 2006". staticresults.sos.la.gov. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
- ^ "Donelon Sworn In as Louisiana Commissioner; Predecessor Wooley Joins Law Firm". pianet.com. February 22, 2006. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
- ^ "Louisiana Results for Election Date: 11/3/1998". staticresults.sos.la.gov. Retrieved June 17, 2013.
- ^ William Rabb (October 31, 2023). "Lighthouse Insurance Misled Hedge Funds Before it Collapsed in 2022, Lawsuit Claims". Insurance Journal.
- ^ "Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon will not seek reelection". 14 March 2023.
- ^ "Tim Temple Sworn in as Louisiana Insurance Commissioner". Insurance Journal. January 8, 2024.
- ^ "Hall of Fame". Louisiana Political Museum. Retrieved 2025-06-23.
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