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Fort Worth Star-Telegram

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.

The Dallas Morning News

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.

The Texas Tribune

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.

The Texan

By Brad Johnson

The 2026 race for Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts added a third candidate when state Sen. Kelly Hancock (R-North Richland Hills) announced a bid for the office after being hired as the agency’s chief clerk.

“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 a press release announcement. “As Comptroller, I’ll make sure your tax dollars are spent wisely, transparently, and responsibly.”

“As Chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs and Border Security Committee, I worked alongside Governor Abbott and President Trump to help build the Texas border wall, support Operation Lone Star, and stop illegal immigration. Texans deserve a Comptroller who understands the link between fiscal strength and public safety, and I have the record to back it up.”

He also announced with a campaign video detailing his background in business and elected office.

The Texas comptroller serves as the state’s fiscal officer, overseeing the budget, consumption tax collections and remittances, state investments, and other miscellaneous programs over which the Legislature gives it oversight.

One such program it’ll be tasked with executing is the new education savings account program passed during the 89th Legislative Session.

The position will soon open as Comptroller Glenn Hegar is leaving to helm the Texas A&M University System in July.

Read more at The Texan.

Pledges Fiscal Discipline and Border Accountability

AUSTIN, TX – State Senator and conservative champion Kelly Hancock (R–Fort Worth) today officially launched his campaign for Texas Comptroller in the 2026 election, vowing to bring fiscal discipline and strong border accountability to the office.

In a video announcing his candidacy, Hancock pledged to safeguard taxpayer dollars and maintain fiscal discipline:

“For over a decade, I’ve fought for Texas taxpayers in the Legislature, cutting red tape, passing conservative budget reforms, and holding government accountable,” said Hancock. “As Comptroller, I’ll make sure your tax dollars are spent wisely, transparently, and responsibly.”

Hancock also highlighted his conservative leadership on border security, citing a proven record of action.

“As Chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs and Border Security Committee, I worked alongside Governor Abbott and President Trump to help build the Texas border wall, support Operation Lone Star, and stop illegal immigration,” Hancock said. “Texans deserve a Comptroller who understands the link between fiscal strength and public safety, and I have the record to back it up.”

A longtime advocate for conservative principles, Hancock was one of the first Republican senators to call for ending in-state tuition for illegal immigrants—breaking with party leadership in 2012 to take a stand for Texas taxpayers.

With decades of experience as a business owner and public servant, Hancock says he’s ready to bring rock-solid conservative values and fiscal responsibility to the Comptroller’s office.

To view Senator Hancock’s campaign announcement, click here or on the image below.

Kelly Hancock is a lifelong Texan, small business owner, and proven conservative who has spent his career fighting for taxpayers and standing firm on the principles of faith, family, and free enterprise. Now running for Texas Comptroller, he’s ready to bring his business sense and commitment to accountability to the state’s top fiscal office.

Kelly built his family-owned distribution company from the ground up, and knows firsthand how red tape can hold back job creators. That experience shaped his work in the Texas Legislature, where he led efforts to cut regulations —including the largest occupational licensing reform in state history—and keep Texas open for business.

Kelly’s public service began on his local school board, where he fought for high standards and strong teacher pay. A dedicated fiscal conservative, Kelly spent a decade on the Senate Finance Committee and five years on the Legislative Budget Board and authored Texas’ conservative state spending limit to ensure the state lives within its means. He also helped deliver major property tax relief and has consistently voted to cut taxes and rein in government growth.

A survivor of a rare kidney disease and recipient of a life-saving transplant from a living donor, his son-in-law, Kelly knows the value of perseverance. He and his wife Robin, his high school sweetheart, have been married 38 years and are proud parents and grandparents.

NBC 5

State Senator Kelly Hancock, R – North Richland Hills, updates Lone Star Politics on a public awareness campaign for organ donation. This comes after a rare disease forced him into requiring a new kidney.

NBC 5

State Senator Kelly Hancock tells NBC 5 what state lawmakers are working on this year in Austin.

CBS News Texas

The Texas House and Senate released their proposed budgets for 2026 and 2027. Republican State Senator Kelly Hancock of North Richland Hills told Jack Fink, “It’s encouraging to have this start and see how close we really are together on the one piece of legislation that we have to pass.”

Spectrum News

By Dylan Scott

AUSTIN, Texas — “It was very life-changing, and I want to see if I can positively impact the lives of others as well,” state Sen. Kelly Hancock, R-District 19, told Spectrum News 1 recently.

Battling a rare kidney disease for more than half his life, Hancock, like nearly 10,000 other Texans, lived and waited for a miracle.

“I’ve known for 31 years this day would come,” Hancock said. “Seven years ago, was told I was a year or two away from dialysis.”

Sen. Hancock recently introduced Senate Bill 1249, which will increase education on the living donor registry program across Texas. (Spectrum News 1/Dylan Scott)

When his health became dire last year, eight members of Hancock’s family stepped up and were tested as a possible match for a kidney transplant. His son-in-law, Greg Cox, proved to be the best fit for surgery and donated his kidney this past July.

“I think the fact that we can do that is pretty cool,” Cox said. “If you’re on the fence, and you’d like to do it, there’s plenty of people that need it. Honestly, I got more out of it than Kelly did.”

Turning his plight into public policy, Hancock filed Senate Bill 1249, a bill that was unanimously passed in the Senate to bring educational resources to the living organ donor registry, which started in Texas.

“Once they are knowledgeable about the opportunity that there is a calling to do that and if they feel led, we want to provide the information,” Hancock said.

According to Donate Life Texas, nearly 10,000 Texans are awaiting an organ transplant and up to 96% of donations can be met through living donors. (Spectrum News 1/Dylan Scott)

Besides registering at the DMV, this legislation will make donor information more readily available on state websites and platforms, a much-needed boost according to Donate Life Texas Executive Director Chad Carroll.

“I don’t think people in Texas are aware that they can become a living donor and how great the need is,” Carroll said. “We’re excited to update our education to include living donors as a viable solid option for those looking to save someone’s life.”

According to the organization, 96% of the state’s organ needs, which are almost all kidney and liver transplants, can be met through living participants.

“Hopefully we can improve lives through the marketing and educational process,” Hancock said. “Eventually the living list of donors grows where there isn’t a huge deficiency and need.”

Sen. Hancock and son-in-law Greg Cox shared their personal story during testimonials for SB 1249 at the State Capitol. (Courtesy: Sen. Hancock)

NBC 5