Veteran state Sen. Kelly Hancock to lead comptroller's office after Glenn Hegar departs for A&M

Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar on Thursday named now-former state Sen. Kelly Hancock as 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.

Hancock, a longtime state senator who has 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."

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.

The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, a lower-profile but vital elected position, serves as keeper of the state's finances. Every two years, comptrollers must release a revenue estimate that effectively caps what the Legislature can spend in the state budget. They also must certify those spending plans before they are official, signifying that there is sufficient funding in the state treasury.

Hancock's hand-selection to serve as interim comptroller helps position him as a front runner in the 2026 race to succeed Hegar. Hancock formally declared his candidacy shortly after being sworn in as chief clerk.

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."

Ahead of his 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.

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 gubernatorial 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.

In his Thursday statement, Hancock cited implementation of the "forward-thinking" program as a top priority, along with safeguarding tax dollars, ensuring transparency and expanding broadband.

Hancock also rolled out a campaign video highlighting his relationship with Abbott and his support for President Donald Trump as he formally announced his candidacy for the statewide office shortly after assuming his new post. His unexpired Senate term will be filled in a special election yet to be called by Abbott.

Hancock also was one of only two GOP members of the upper chamber who voted to convict Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton on the 2023 impeachment charges brought by the House.

In his statement, Abbott also fired a brush-back pitch under the chin of Huffines, who after a single term in the state Senate was sent packing by general election voters in 2018 who awarded the seat to Democrat Nathan Johnson.

"I endorse Kelly Hancock because I want a candidate who will actually win the election, not someone who has already lost an election to a Democrat," Abbott said.