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Democrat Jones Leads Insurance Commissioner Race

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Democratic incumbent Dave Jones took an early lead Tuesday in the race for state insurance commissioner.

COMPLETE COVERAGE: 2014 Election Results

Jones held 54.4 percent of the vote with 14 percent of precincts counted and many more to be tabulated. His Republican opponent state Sen. Ted Gaines had 45.6 percent.

Jones, 52, has led the state's Department of Insurance since 2010.

During his campaign, Jones said he helped save businesses and consumers $1.4 billion by rejecting excessive premium increases for auto, home and other insurance.

He has also pushed for expanded authority to veto rate increases proposed by health insurers for individual and small group plans. A measure to give the commissioner that authority was also on Tuesday's ballot.

Gaines opposed the proposal, saying it would hurt competition and limit choices for consumers.

The question of whether health insurers should be treated more like auto and homeowner insurance companies will be put to the test with Proposition 45. Health insurance companies have poured millions of dollars into advertising in an effort to shoot it down.

Jones said during his tenure he also has negotiated reductions in health insurance rates and slashed the cost of medical malpractice insurance. Jones previously served in the state Assembly after beginning his career as a legal aid attorney with Legal Services of Northern California.

Gaines, 56, was elected to the state Senate in 2010 after serving in the Assembly and is chairman of the Senate Republican Caucus.

Gaines, an independent insurance agent, said Jones has not done enough to increase competition among insurance companies.

(© Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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