NBC 5: Governor Abbott backs former State Senator Kelly Hancock for state’s accountant
June 19, 2025Hancock resigned as state senator and was appointed to be the chief clerk of the comptroller’s office.
Hancock resigned as state senator and was appointed to be the chief clerk of the comptroller’s office.
Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar finalized the appointment of former state senator Kelly Hancock as his new Chief Clerk. Comptroller Hegar is leaving the office at the end of June to become the Chancellor of the Texas A&M University System.
Now that Hancock has resigned from his State Senate seat in Tarrant County, there is an opening. Gov. Abbott will soon call for a special election. Republican State Rep. Nate Schatzline of Fort Worth said he’s considering running for the seat.
By Brad Johnson
Kelly Hancock launched his long-rumored bid for Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.
Now-former state Sen. Kelly Hancock (R-North Richland Hills) announced his bid for Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts shortly after joining the agency as an employee — a way to get around the constitutional obstacles related to a direct appointment.
He is the third candidate in the race, joining former state Sen. Don Huffines (R-Dallas) and Railroad Commissioner Christi Craddick.
Below is a transcription of The Texan’s interview with Hancock about the race, his time in the Legislature, and the transition to a new job. It has been lightly edited for readability.
Now-former Sen. Kelly Hancock, congratulations on the run. You just jumped into the comptroller’s race today and, of course, started as chief clerk at the comptroller’s office. How’s the first day going with the new job?
Well, I got Gov. Greg Abbott’s endorsement. It’s not a bad start.
Why run for this office, and what do you bring to the table in this campaign?
I am a financial guy, and it’s what I focused on all along; I served on the Senate Finance Committee. And Texas is a great state. There’s a lot going on, and I’ve got a good history [in the Legislature]: ten years working on the budget from one side and years on the Legislative Budget Board. We of course passed the most conservative spending cap the state’s ever had. But there’s a lot going on. It’s an exciting place right now.
When you look at federal funds coming back on border security — potentially — we’ve got to make sure that with all that border money we continue to secure the border, while making sure we don’t pay twice for things. And that we use federal dollars when we can, so we’re not using Texas taxpayer dollars. Other things are broadband expansion and the opioid settlement, but the big thing now is education savings accounts (ESAs). With my 13 years on the school board and all the other experience, it’s just a really good fit. And I like good challenges, and I’m excited about it.
Read more at The Texan.
By Jahmal Kennedy
AUSTIN, Texas — State Senator Kelly Hancock of Tarrant County has been officially named the acting state comptroller, following the selection by outgoing Texas State Comptroller Glenn Hegar.
Hegar, who is set to become the chancellor of the Texas A&M University System, expressed confidence in his choice.
“It’s a proud day for me, a big day for this agency, to make sure that as we are moving forward, this agency is in somebody’s hands who is honest, who is trustworthy, the people of the state of Texas can trust,” Hegar said of Hancock.
Hancock, who will leave his current role as a state senator, has identified education savings accounts as a top priority in his new position.
“Freedom for those in the education area to help us improve our education that’s been lagging,” Hancock said.
Read more at CBS Austin.
By Steven Ardary
AUSTIN, Texas – Former state Sen. Kelly Hancock was sworn in as chief clerk of the Texas Comptroller’s Office on Thursday while simultaneously launching his campaign to lead the office.
The North Richland Hills Republican also picked up an endorsement for the office from Gov. Greg Abbott. The comptroller serves as the state’s chief financial officer.
Hancock will assume the role of acting comptroller on July 1.
Current Comptroller Glenn Hegar is stepping down to become Chancellor of the Texas A&M University system.
Read more at FOX 4 News.
By John C. Moritz
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.
Read more at Austin American-Statesman.
By Lillie Davidson
State Sen. Kelly Hancock has resigned from his post in the Texas Legislature to become the next Texas comptroller, according to a press release Thursday.
Hancock, a Republican from North Richland Hills whose district includes portions of Fort Worth and Arlington, is replacing current comptroller Glenn Hegar, who is stepping down from the position to become chancellor of the Texas A&M University System, the system announced in March.
On June 18, Hancock resigned from his position in the Legislature, according to the Texas Senate website. He will begin his role as comptroller on July 1.
Hegar swore Hancock in as chief clerk on Thursday morning at the comptroller office in Austin.
“The comptroller’s office exists to serve every Texas taxpayer,” Hancock said in a press release. “Whether it’s safeguarding your tax dollars, ensuring transparency or implementing forward-thinking initiatives like education savings accounts and broadband expansion, this office plays a vital role in driving Texas’ continued economic success.”
Hancock will serve out the remainder of Hegar’s term as comptroller, which is up election in November 2026.
Read more at Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
By Nolan D. McCaskill
AUSTIN — Gov. Greg Abbott endorsed former state Sen. Kelly Hancock’s bid for Texas comptroller shortly after the ex-lawmaker from North Texas announced his candidacy Thursday.
Hancock, a Republican from North Richland Hills, was sworn in Thursday morning as chief clerk of the comptroller’s office. The comptroller functions as the state’s chief financial officer.
Hancock, who resigned from the Legislature on Wednesday, also launched a campaign for state comptroller Thursday morning. He joins Railroad Commissioner Christi Craddick and former state Sen. Don Huffines, R-Dallas, as candidates to succeed Glenn Hegar.
The primary is March 3. If no candidate wins more than 50% of the vote, the top two vote-getters would go to a May 26 runoff. The general election is Nov. 3, 2026.
“The new comptroller has the daunting task to implement the largest day-one school choice program in America,” Abbott said in a statement. “From serving as a school board member to voting — repeatedly — to pass school choice, Kelly knows far more about the school choice law than other candidates.”
Hancock will take over Hegar’s duties at the comptroller’s office beginning July 1. Hegar is leaving the agency to become chancellor of the Texas A&M University System.
Read more at The Dallas Morning News.
By Zach Despart and Alejandro Serrano
Republican state Sen. Kelly Hancock launched his campaign for state comptroller Thursday shortly after taking a senior position at the comptroller’s office.
His appointment as chief clerk to Comptroller Glenn Hegar paves the way for Hanock, a North Richland Hill Republican, to become interim comptroller after Hegar leaves his office in June. And it gives Hancock an edge in a growing Republican primary race next year.
“Kelly is a great fit to serve as the chief financial officer of Texas,” Hegar said in a statement, who is stepping down to become chancellor of the Texas A&M University System. “As a long-serving member of the Texas Legislature, he helped shape sound financial policy and authored the state’s conservative spending cap legislation”
Hegar added that Hancock is honest, trustworthy, and an “all-around good guy.”
Hancock, in a statement, cited his conservative bona fides on border security, noting he was one of the first Republican senators to call for ending in-state tuition for undocumented immigrants, which the state did earlier this month.
“For over a decade, I’ve fought for Texas taxpayers in the Legislature, cutting red tape, passing conservative budget reforms, and holding government accountable,” Hancock said in his campaign announcement. “As Comptroller, I’ll make sure your tax dollars are spent wisely, transparently, and responsibly.”
Read more at The Texas Tribune.
