GOVERNMENT Gov. Abbott to appoint local senator as secretary of state
“VOTERS EXPECT FAIR ELECTIONS WITH ACCURATE, TIMELY RESULTS, AND I AM COMMITTED TO MAKING THAT HAPPEN. TEXANS WITH ALL POLITICAL VIEWS SHOULD HAVE FAITH IN OUR ELECTION SYSTEM.” FORMER SEN. JANE NELSON, R FLOWER MOUND
BY HANNAH NORTON
This is Abbott’s fourth appointee to the o ce in four years. Under Texas law, a secretary of state who is appointed outside of a regular legisla- tive session must be con rmed by the Senate during the next session. Scott did not undergo the con r- mation process, because his resigna- tion came before the 2023 session, which will begin Jan. 10. However, Abbott’s previous two picks—David Whitley and Ruth Hughs—did not receive votes from two-thirds of the Senate, which is required for con rmation. Nelson’s experience in the Senate gives her an advantage in the con rmation process. She was praised by various state leaders and lawmakers on social media following the governor’s announcement, including Railroad Commissioner Christi Craddick and Tan Parker, an outgoing state representative.
A longtime state senator from Flower Mound will be nominated to be Texas’ next secretary of state, Gov. Greg Abbott announced Dec. 6. Former Sen. Jane Nelson, R Flower Mound, is the highest-ranking Republican in the Senate. After 30 years in the Legislature, Nelson shared in 2021 she was not seeking re-election and would retire ahead of the 2023 legislative session. Nelson will replace outgoing Secretary of State John Scott, who announced his resignation Dec. 5. After over a year on the job, Scott said he plans to step down Dec. 31 and return to his private legal practice. As Texas’ 115th secretary of state, Nelson will be the state’s top election o cial. She will supervise elections, maintain voter records and enforce campaign nance laws.
Previous experience Elected in 1992, Nelson is the longest-serving Republican in the Texas Senate. She previously served on the State Board of Education for eight years, according to a news release from her o ce. “I look forward to this new chapter of public service and appreciate the con dence Gov. Abbott has placed in me to serve as secretary of state,” Nelson said in the release. “Voters expect fair elections with accurate, timely results, and I am committed to making that happen. Texans with all political views should have faith in our election system.” Nelson does not have direct
experience with election legislation in the Senate. She most recently served as the chair of the Senate Finance Committee, which writes the state’s budget, and she was the rst woman to do so. She has also lead the Senate Health Committee and passed bills on topics, such as foster care and protections for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. “Sen. Nelson’s lifelong commit- ment to public service and deep understanding of state government will be assets as she serves Texans in this new role,” Abbott said in a tweet. Abbott did not specify when Nelson will take o ce.
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