Jon Godfread | |
|---|---|
| Insurance Commissioner of North Dakota | |
| Assumed office January 1, 2017 | |
| Governor | Doug Burgum Kelly Armstrong |
| Preceded by | Adam Hamm |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1981or1982(age 42–43) |
| Political party | Republican |
| Education | University of Northern Iowa (BA) University of North Dakota (JD,MBA) |
Jonathan Godfread (born 1981/1982) [1] 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 unopposed in in 2020 [2] [12] and 2024. [13]
Godfread and Amanda (née Hvidsten) became engaged in 2011. [14] They married and have three children. [15]
After Guinness World Records certified Robert Cornegy as the World's Tallest Politician in January 2019,Godfread challenged the record. [16] 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]