Ralph Hudgens

Ralph Hudgens is the Commissioner of Insurance of the state of Georgia. Hudgens served in the Georgia House of Representatives as well as the Georgia Senate. He has been a delegate to numerous Republican Party events. Hudgens defeated his Democratic opponent in the 2010 election with 53.8% of the vote. Hugdens and his wife Suzanne have four children and twelve grandchildren.^[1]

Views on Obamacare

With regard to Obamacare, as the Georgia Insurance Commissioner, Hudgens has opposed the implementation of Affordable Care Act and vowed to be an "obstructionist" while speaking to a group of Republicans at the Tillman Hanger Rally in Floyd County, Georgia.^[2] However, Hudgens later admitted "I spoke to a Republican group in Rome, Ga., and I said I was going to be an obstructionist, but I can’t be. I mean, I was talking to a Republican group and I was throwing them some red meat."^[3]

At the CSRA Republican Women’s Club meeting, he criticized the Affordable Care Act by likening the patients with preexisting condition to a car driver that has gotten in an accident and seeks car insurance post incident.^[4] He has since retracted his remarks and stated, "I've had family members, I've had friends - who have pre-existing conditions. It's not the person's fault they have a pre-existing condition."^[5]

Recent controversy

At a recent Georgia Republican public event, Hudgens was speaking and happened to notice a journalist, Nydia Tisdale, videotaping the event, which caused him to direct a comment at her, publicly stating "I don't know why you're videotaping". This led to some apparent discomfort, in spite of her already having had approval to record the public event. Subsequently the police arrested Tisdale, with accusations currently being leveled both at the police as well as at Tisdale. At this time, the dispute has not been settled but video has surfaced of the event.^[6]

Electoral history

References

• http://www.ralphhudgens.com/about_ralph
• http://sos.georgia.gov/elections/election_results/2010_1102/00250.htm

Current statewide political officials of Georgia
U.S. Senators	David Perdue Johnny Isakson
State government	Nathan Deal, Governor Casey Cagle, Lieutenant Governor Brian Kemp, Secretary of State Sam Olens, Attorney General Steve McCoy, Treasurer (appointed) Richard Woods, Superintendent Gary Black, Agriculture Commissioner Ralph Hudgens, Insurance Commissioner Mark Butler, Labor Commissioner Chuck Eaton (Chair), Bubba McDonald (Vice Chair), Doug Everett, Tim Echols, Stan Wise, Public Service Commission
Senate	Tommie Williams, President pro tempore Chip Rogers, Majority Leader Steve Henson, Minority Leader
House	David Ralston, Speaker Jan Jones, Speaker pro tempore Larry O'Neal, Majority Leader Stacey Abrams, Minority Leader
Supreme Court	Hugh Thompson, Chief Justice Harris Hines, Presiding Justice Robert Benham Carol Hunstein Harold Melton David Nahmias Keith Blackwell, Justices