Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson has announced she will be stepping down from her role, effective July 17. Nelson, who Governor Abbott appointed to her current post in January 2023, has had the longest tenure of any Secretary of State appointed by Abbott.
“It has been an honor to serve the people of Texas in this role,” Secretary Nelson said. “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.”
Governor Abbott thanked Nelson for her leadership of the office.
“Secretary Jane Nelson has been a true champion for the people of Texas and an extraordinary Secretary of State,” said Abbott. “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.”
Nelson has been a fixture in Texas politics for nearly four decades. First elected to the State Board of Education in 1988, Nelson then served as a State Senator representing portions of North Texas from 1993 until 2023. As a State Senator, Nelson was Chairman of the powerful Senate Finance Committee from 2014 until 2022.
Among the duties of the Secretary of State are serving as the State’s head elections officer, administering business and other public filings, serving as the Governor’s lead liaison for Texas Border and Mexican Affairs, and serving as the State’s chief international protocol officer.
Remarking on her successes as the State’s Chief Elections Officer, Nelson said, “It has been my goal to ensure that voting in Texas is secure, accessible and fair. We have worked extensively to ensure accurate voter rolls and to educate voters about what they need to know to vote with confidence.”
Nelson’s tenure as Secretary of State has not been without controversy. Her office is currently being sued by the Republican Party of Texas, which seeks to compel the Secretary of State to implement a closed Republican Party Primary. Nelson’s office has retained a prominent Washington, DC-area law firm to represent it in the litigation, in which it seeks to have the Party’s lawsuit dismissed.
In a social media post, Republican Party of Texas State Chairman Abraham George expressed optimism that Nelson’s successor, who is yet to be named, would support the Texas GOP’s effort to implement a closed primary.
“Looking forward to partnering with the next Secretary of State to strengthen election integrity, secure our elections, and advance one of our highest priorities: closing the Republican primary so Republican nominees are chosen by Republican voters,” said George.
