Top Texas election official to resign ahead of November elections

Texas will lose its top election official in mid-July as the state gears up for its November election.

Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson announced on Tuesday evening, June 2, that she would resign on July 17 after three and a half years in the position, but gave no specific reason.

“It has been an honor to serve the people of Texas in this role,” Nelson said in a statement. “My time as secretary came at an important moment for Texas, and I am proud of what we have been able to accomplish as an agency in under four years.”

In Texas, the secretary of state is appointed by the governor, confirmed by the Texas Senate and serves as the state's chief election officer and chief international protocol officer. The office is the repository for official, business and commercial records.

Gov. Greg Abbott appointed Nelson to the position after she served for 30 years in the Texas Senate, where she earned and still holds the title of the longest-serving Republican in the Texas Senate and was the first woman to chair the powerful Senate Finance Committee. 

On March 15, 2023, she was unanimously approved by the Senate to serve as secretary of state.

According to her office, during her tenure, Nelson has overseen seven statewide elections, with a cumulative total of 27 million ballots cast. Nelson also oversaw the disbursement of millions in grants to local counties to strengthen election integrity and secured funding for a military ballot-security initiative that will roll out for the upcoming General Election.

Also, under Nelson, Texas saw more than 3 million active business filers, with the department processing millions of business filings and launching Texas Express.

Following her accomplishments, Abbott issued a statement thanking Nelson for her leadership and calling her an "extraordinary" secretary of state.

"I am deeply grateful for her long and loyal service and outstanding leadership. She has represented our state with grace and honor across the globe, and Texas is better because of it. Cecilia and I wish her all the best in the next chapter of her distinguished career," Abbott wrote.

Abbott has not announced who he intends to appoint to fill the vacancy.

The departure leaves Texas without a permanent chief election officer four months before voters head to the polls to cast their deciding votes in races for U.S. Senate, governor, attorney general and other statewide and local elections.

The role traces back to Stephen F. Austin in 1836

Stephen F. Austin, often called the Father of Texas, served as the state's first secretary of state in 1836.

He was instrumental in the Texas fight for independence against Mexico and was appointed to his position by Sam Houston, the first president of the Republic of Texas.

Austin served in his position for only three months before dying of pneumonia while in office in December 1836, at the age of 43.

Responsibilities of the Texas Secretary of State

Under the Texas Constitution, the secretary of state "authenticates the publication of the laws, and keeps a fair register of all official acts and proceedings of the governor," while also keeping the records of the Texas Legislature.

That power has evolved to include assisting county election officials, ensuring the uniform application and interpretation of election laws throughout Texas and publishing government rules and regulations.

The position maintains a certain level of dignitary authority, as its U.S. counterpart, with the secretary also serving as senior advisor and liaison to the governor for Texas Border and Mexican Affairs and as Chief International Protocol Officer for Texas.

Mateo Rosiles is the Texas Connect reporter for USA TODAY and its regional papers in Texas. Got a news tip for him? Email him at [email protected].