Insurance Commissioner race a statistical dead heat

The Race for State Insurance Commissioner is a statistical dead heat as the Republican John Doak leads the Incumbent Democrat Kim Holland by less than a point.

The statewide poll shows Doak leading receiving 33.2 percent of the vote while Holland receives 32.4, while 34.4 percent said the were still undecided. It should be noted that this poll only included the announced candidates at the time the survey was fielded.

"This race gives a good indication of the mood of the electorate and shows the slight advantage the Republicans have this year all the way down the ticket," Bill Shapard, CEO of SoonerPoll.com, said. "John Doak has never run for office before, while Commissioner Holland has, and the unknown challenger has a slight lead on the incumbent. This indicates the electorate, overall, is more likely to vote Republican this year -- even for candidates they do not particularly know."

SoonerPoll.com conducted the scientific study using live interviewers by telephone of 503 likely voters from May 25 - June 8, 2010. The study has a margin of error of ±4.4 percent.

Holland has served as Oklahoma's State Insurance Commissioner since being appointed by Governor Brad Henry in 2005 following the indictment and resignation Carroll Fisher. In 2006 Holland won reelection after out fund-raising a former state representative Bill Case, five to one.

Doak, a Tulsa area businessman and insurance professional, said "If elected he would be a strong voice advocating for Oklahoma consumers, while being fair to businesses who create jobs in our economy."

Filing for candidacy ended June 9 and saw the addition of two Republican candidates who were not included in the poll, which was completed on June 8. The former State Insurance Commissioner John P. Crawford has announced his candidacy for the office along with Mark Croucher, an insurance agency owner in Jenks, Okla.