Jon Godfread | |
---|---|
Insurance Commissioner of North Dakota | |
Assumed office January 1, 2017 | |
Governor | Doug Burgum |
Preceded by | Adam Hamm |
Personal details | |
Born | 1981 or 1982 (age 41–42) [1] |
Political party | Republican |
Education |
University of Northern Iowa (
BA) University of North Dakota ( JD, MBA) |
Jonathan Godfread is an American politician from the state of North Dakota. A member of the Republican Party, he is the North Dakota Insurance Commissioner, and has served in the role since 2016.
Godfread is from Grand Forks, North Dakota. [2] He attended Red River High School, and played for the school's basketball team. [3] He graduated in 2000. He committed to attend the University of Utah to play college basketball for the Utah Utes men's basketball team. [4] After taking a redshirt for Utah in his freshman year, [5] he decided to transfer to the University of Northern Iowa. [6] [7] He played college basketball for the Northern Iowa Panthers, who qualified for the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament in 2004 and 2005. [8] Godfread graduated from Northern Iowa in 2005. After his college basketball career, Godfread played professionally in Germany for the Ehingen Urspring of ProA for one season. [2] [9]
Godfread returned to the United States and enrolled at the University of North Dakota, where he graduated with a Master of Business Administration and Juris Doctor in 2011. [2] He worked for Alerus Financial and served as vice president for the Greater North Dakota Chamber. [10]
After the incumbent North Dakota Insurance Commissioner, Adam Hamm, announced he would not seek reelection in 2016, Godfread announced his candidacy to succeed him. [10] Godfread was elected state insurance commissioner, defeating Democrat Ruth Buffalo. [2] As Insurance Commissioner, Godfread supported Wayne Stenehjem's decision to join California v. Texas, opposing the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act. [11] Godfread was reelected in 2020 unopposed. [2] [12]
Godfread and Amanda ( née Hvidsten) became engaged in 2011. [13] They married and have three children. [14]
After Guinness World Records certified Robert Cornegy as the World's Tallest Politician in January 2019, Godfread challenged the record. [15] In November, Guinness World Records certified Godfread as the World's Tallest Politician at 210.76 centimetres (6 ft 10.98 in), surpassing Cornegy, who was measured at 209.6 centimetres (6 ft 10.5 in). [8]