Former Sen. Kelly Hancock to Lead Texas Comptroller's Office After Hegar's Departure

Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar on Thursday named now-former state Sen. Kelly Hancock as his chief clerk, setting the stage for the North Texas Republican to take over the office in a few weeks when Hegar leaves to become chancellor of the Texas A&M University System.

The hand-selection positions Hancock, a long-time senator who was first elected in 2012, as a front runner in the 2026 comptroller's race. He declared his candidacy for the role after being sworn into his new role.

Ahead of the appointment, Hancock had to formally resign as a member of the Texas Senate. That's because state law prohibits appointing a member of the Legislature to a statewide post before his or her legislative term expires. Hancock's term does not expire until after the 2026 election cycle.

Hancock, who served on the budget-writing Senate Finance Committee for more than a decade, said in a news release that his new job will be to "serve every Texas taxpayer."

"This office plays a vital role in driving Texas’ continued economic success," he said.

Hegar, in the same release, was effusive in his praise for Hancock.

“Kelly is a great fit to serve as the chief financial officer of Texas,” Hegar said. “As a long-serving member of the Texas Legislature, he helped shape sound financial policy."

The office of comptroller is the keeper of the state's finances. Under the Texas Constitution, comptrollers release a revenue estimate every two years that caps what the Legislature can spend in the state budget. They also must certify spending plans before they are official, signifying that there is sufficient funding in the state treasury.

Hegar, first elected comptroller in 2014, will leave office in the middle of his third term on July 1 to succeed retiring A&M Chancellor John Sharp, who, like Hegar, served as both state comptroller and state senator.

Gov. Greg Abbott endorsed Hancock for the post within an hour of the official appointment, saying Hancock brings hand-on private sector experience to the role of Texas' top financial officer, having "built a successful family-run business from the ground up."

Hancock and his brother founded Fort Worth's Advanced Chemical Logistics more than 20 years ago.

"He knows what it means to pay taxes, what it means to sign both the front and the back of a paycheck," Abbott said in a statement. "He will be a guardian of the taxpayers for whom he works as well as the state finances he is charged to oversee."

With the governor's formal backing, Hancock would appear have a leg up in next year's GOP primary but he looks to face off against two well-known Republicans: Texas Railroad Commissioner Christi Craddick and former state Sen. Don Huffines who in 2022 unsuccessfully challenged Abbott in the Republican primary.

Abbott has an especially notable stake in who will serve as comptroller. During the Legislative session that ended June 2, the Legislature enacted the governor's top priority — a plan that will allow parents to access public dollars to fund K-12 for their children's education. The comptroller will oversee, and establish the start-up rules for the program.

This is a developing report. Please check back for updates.