Author Archive

The Dallas Morning News

By Gromer Jeffers Jr.

The 2026 state GOP primary promises to reshuffle Texas Republican politics, as new faces emerge and some veterans seek different offices.

At least three statewide offices are likely to feature a GOP race with an uncertain outcome. Those hotly contested races have already divided the party and pitted some of the state’s top Republicans against each other in a brewing endorsement battle.

Battle lines have already been drawn in the race for comptroller.

Former state Sen. Kelly Hancock of North Richland Hills was appointed chief clerk at the comptroller’s office, and he will lead it when Hegar departs this week. Hancock announced his campaign for comptroller after his appointment, and resigned from the Senate. Abbott followed by endorsing Hancock in the primary.

Read more at The Dallas Morning News.

ABC13 Houston

In an all-new episode of This Week in Texas, ABC13 speaks with the new acting comptroller for the state of Texas, former State Senator Kelly Hancock.

Austin American-Statesman

By John C. Moritz

When Kelly Hancock decided to change political hats, it was a two-for-one deal.

Hancock, a 12-year veteran of the Texas Senate, was named acting state comptroller on Thursday to take over for Glenn Hegar when he becomes the new chancellor of the Texas A&M University System on July 1. And in almost the same breath, Hancock became a candidate in what is expected to be a competitive 2026 Republican primary followed by a general election to win the statewide office in his own right.

Officially, Hancock will be the chief clerk of the comptroller’s office and was selected by Hegar. Because Hegar’s selection as the successor to retiring A&M Chancellor John Sharp was made months earlier, it was widely assumed that Gov. Greg Abbott would name a comptroller to serve out the 18 months on the unexpired term.

Read more at Austin American-Statesman.

CBS News Texas

Republican State Senator Kelly Hancock or North Richland Hills has a new high profile job. Outgoing Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar hired him to serve as the new chief clerk and swore him into office.

WFAA

Kelly Hancock was sworn in as chief clerk in the Texas Comptroller’s office, giving him an advantage heading into the 2026 election.

The Dallas Morning News

Hancock right for comptroller

Gov. Greg Abbott’s endorsement of former Sen. Kelly Hancock as our next state comptroller was a wise choice. I’ve known Hancock for over 20 years. He’s a strong conservative, a successful businessman, and a devoted husband and father.

Where other candidates fall short, Hancock works well with his colleagues in the Texas House and Senate. He does his homework and knows the state budget like the back of his hand.

He’ll deliver immediate results just like our last comptroller. We need positive forward-thinking leaders in Austin like Hancock.

John Carona, Dallas

Former member, Texas Senate

Read more at The Dallas Morning News.

Fort Worth Report

By David Montgomery

AUSTIN — Sitting in an Austin high-rise with a spectacular view of the Texas Capitol just behind him, former state Sen. Kelly Hancock left no doubt that his two announced opponents in the Texas comptroller’s race will have a fight on their hands.

“A lot of elected officials don’t like campaigning,” he told the Fort Worth Report during an interview at his downtown campaign headquarters. “I love campaigning. I won’t see all 31 million Texans but I’ll see a lot of them. We’ll go all over the state.”

In a top-level job swap June 19, Hancock was positioned to replace departing state Comptroller Glenn Hegar as acting comptroller after submitting his Senate resignation to Gov. Greg Abbott two days earlier. Now, the 61-year-old Tarrant County Republican is plunging into a 2026 election fight against two previously announced candidates — Railroad Commissioner Christi Craddick and former state Sen. Don Huffines.

Hancock announced his candidacy the same day Hegar swore him in as chief clerk in the comptroller’s office. He will become acting comptroller July 1 when Hegar, himself a former senator, leaves to become chancellor of Texas A&M University System.

Read more at Fort Worth Report.

KXAN

Republican State Sen Kelly Hancock resigned from the Texas Senate and was hired to be the Chief Clerk at the Texas Comptroller’s office on Thursday.

Houston Chronicle

By Jeremy Wallace

Three statewide primary battles already getting negative.

Texas Republicans are heading into their most competitive GOP primary season for statewide office in over a decade, with hot races for three major statewide battles already turning bitter.

Primary battles for the U.S. Senate, attorney general and state comptroller are already simmering even though the March 2026 elections are still nine months away.

State Comptroller

On Thursday, state Sen. Kelly Hancock resigned from the Legislature and announced he was running to be the next state comptroller. He is hoping to replace current officeholder Glenn Hegar, who is leaving the post to become chancellor of the Texas A&M University System. It’s the first race for comptroller without an incumbent since 2014.

Read more at Houston Chronicle.

Houston Chronicle

By Jeremy Wallace

The battle over who will implement Gov. Greg Abbott’s private school voucher plan is suddenly becoming one of the hottest battles in Texas GOP politics.

On Thursday, state Sen. Kelly Hancock, R-North Richland Hills, officially resigned his position in the Legislature and announced he would run for Texas Comptroller, a post that will be in charge of developing and administering Abbott’s school voucher program. The office also acts as the state’s chief financial officer in charge of collecting taxes and forecasting the state’s financial condition.

Shortly before announcing his campaign, current State Comptroller Glenn Hegar officially appointed Hancock to be his chief clerk, positioning him to be the acting comptroller when Hegar leaves to become the Texas A&M University System chancellor on July 1. That could give Hancock an edge over other prominent GOP candidates who have been running for the position.

Read more at Houston Chronicle.