WASHINGTON—The head of the House of Representatives panel that deals with insurance issues has won re-election.

Rep. Paul Kanjorski, D-Pa., defeated Hazelton, Pa., Mayor Lou Barletta, a Republican, by 4 percentage points in Tuesday's election.

Rep. Kanjorski, who chairs the Financial Services Committee's Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance and Government Sponsored Enterprises, has been a key player on insurance issues, including sponsoring legislation that would create an Office of Insurance Information in the Treasury Department.

But the Senate co-sponsor of legislation that would allow insurers to choose to be regulated by federal rather than state authorities will not be returning to Capitol Hill. Sen. John Sununu, R-N.H. lost to former Democratic Gov. Jeanne Shaheen, by 7 percentage points.