Kelly Hancock was sworn in as chief clerk in the Texas Comptroller’s office, giving him an advantage heading into the 2026 election.
DALLAS — It is a shrewd political move.
And in theory, it puts former State Senator Kelly Hancock, R-District 9, in the driver’s seat in the race for Texas Comptroller.
Hancock resigned from the legislature and was then almost immediately sworn in as the chief clerk to current Comptroller Glenn Hegar. But Hegar is leaving the office at the end of June to become Chancellor of the Texas A&M University system. At that point, Hancock will become the interim comptroller. And the North Richland Hills Republican has already announced his candidacy to fill the job full-time.
The Republican primary for Texas Comptroller is already a crowded race. In addition to Hancock, Land Commissioner Christi Craddick and former State Senator Don Huffines are running as well.
Hancock says he’s been thinking about this move for more than a year, with momentum picking up during the legislative session that just ended.
The Republican says his experience separates him from his opponents.
“I’m a small business owner that started from scratch. I wasn’t born with a silver spoon in my mouth. I had to build this company from the ground up. My time on the school board, I think, is vitally important,” Hancock explained. “But, from a professional and a business standpoint, which is really what it takes in the comptroller’s office, I’m the only one that has ten years, writing a budget, working with the comptroller’s office, working on various articles, in other words, different parts of the budget.”
It will be up to Governor Greg Abbott to call a special election to fill Hancock’s former Senate seat.
While Abbott has endorsed Hancock for comptroller, Hancock wouldn’t tell us whether he plans to endorse anyone running for his former seat, saying he’s only focused on the race for comptroller.
Even though he’s changing offices, Hancock says he’s keeping his Senate staff in place to help constituents.
“We have provisions until that seat’s in place. And I’ve had staff conversations. Whether I’m there or not, we are going to take care of constituents in Senate District 9,” he said. “I’m leaving, but I still feel responsible until that position’s filled.”
We have invited both Land Commissioner Christi Craddick and former State Senator Don Huffines to appear on a future episode of Inside Texas Politics.