Grace Arnold has been confirmed by the Minnesota Senate as Commissioner for the Minnesota Department of Commerce, an agency which encompasses regulation, planning, programs and services involving more than 40 industry areas, including insurance, financial institutions and energy resources.  

“Commissioner Arnold has had great success in a range of initiatives, from advancing energy efficient homes and advocating for health insurance affordability to engaging with communities in new ways and providing consumer protections,” said Gov. Walz. “Her leadership is an asset to the Department of Commerce and the entire state as we work to lower costs and make Minnesota the best state for kids and families.”   

“The values that Commissioner Arnold brings to her leadership – her passion for consumer protections, her commitment to equity, her emphasis on collaboration – have far-reaching benefits in how the Commerce Department serves the people of Minnesota,” said Lt. Gov. Flanagan.  

Commissioner Arnold said, “The Senate’s vote to confirm me as commissioner is recognition of the strong team at Commerce and our hard work to assist and protect consumers, and to promote a fair, competitive marketplace.”  

Arnold has held the position of Commerce commissioner since 2020, with Governor Walz announcing her reappointment in November 2022. Prior to becoming Commissioner, Arnold served as Deputy Commissioner of Insurance for the Commerce Department. In that role, she oversaw the life insurance, health insurance, and property and casualty insurance markets in Minnesota, ensuring that Minnesotans’ insurance complies with Minnesota law and that insurance companies are financially strong.  

Prior to joining the Department of Commerce, Commissioner Arnold led product development for individual and family plans at Bright Health. She spent nearly a decade at the federal Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services where she helped lead the technology turnaround of healthcare.gov and led policy development during the implementation of the Affordable Care Act. She is a graduate of Macalester College and George Washington University.  

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MEDIA CONTACTS: 

Mo Schriner, Communications Director
Minnesota Department of Commerce
mo.schriner@state.mn.us