North Texas State Senator resigns to take top spot at Texas Comptroller's Office, join 2026 GOP primary
The political dominoes are falling at the Texas Capitol months before the March 2026 primaries.
State Sen. Kelly Hancock, R-North Richland Hills, resigned from his seat Thursday and is going to become Acting Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts on July 1, filling a rare vacancy.
On June 30, Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar will leave his statewide seat after ten years and become Chancellor of the Texas A&M University System.
On Thursday, Hegar introduced Hancock and swore him in as Chief Clerk in his office. That position creates the path for Hancock to assume the top spot in the agency. The Comptroller serves as the state's chief financial officer, overseeing the state's finances and estimating how much revenue lawmakers can spend on their two-year budget.
Shortly after Hancock took the oath of office, he announced he would be running to keep the seat in the March 2026 GOP primary. Gov.Greg Abbott, a close ally, quickly endorsed him in the race.
GOP primary widens for Comptroller
With Hancock's entry, the Republican primary has widened. Railroad Commissioner Christi Craddick is also running and former State Sen. Don Huffines of Dallas, who is being backed by Sen. Ted Cruz.
Hancock spoke with CBS News Texas on Thursday in an interview for Eye On Politics. When asked why he believes he's the best candidate for the job, Hancock said, "I'm really the only one who ever put together a budget. I worked on Senate Finance for 10 years and put together a budget. I worked on Article 3, which is education. I've really served in various committees where the budget starts."
Hancock and his wife are small business owners, and he is a former school board trustee.
Comptroller responsibilities are growing
This will be a test for Hancock as the Comptroller's responsibilities are growing.
The office must establish the $1 billion education savings accounts program he and other Republican lawmakers approved during the regular session. Students will receive tax dollars to attend private schools.
The Comptroller's office has less than a year to set up the program.
When asked how important it is to get the program set on time and make it easy for parents to access, Hancock said, "Vitally important. I think we made these moves as soon as we did, so we can get going. It's where I think my educational background is going to be very helpful. I'm excited and thrilled to work with Gov. Abbott, which I know this was a big part of his program. He was very concerned about making sure we get these educational savings accounts out and available to the public, be very transparent and the accountability is there. I'm excited about it."
Now that Hancock has stepped away from his Tarrant County senate seat, that will create an opening. Abbott will soon call for a special election. State Rep. Nate Schatzline, R-Fort Worth, told CBS News Texas Thursday that he is considering running for this seat.
Watch Eye On Politics at 7:30 Sunday morning on CBS News Texas on air and streaming
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Warren Buffett Is Giving Away $6 Billion — Here's Who Is Getting It
Warren Buffett, a billionaire investor and philanthropist, announced he's donating $6 billion to five charities The charities that will receive the funds include his three children's charities and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust, whom he was a trustee with from 2006 to 2021 Buffett's estimated net worth is $152 billionWarren Buffett is giving away $6 billion — his biggest donation in almost two decades — to five charities by the end of the month. The chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway and philanthropist, 94, announced in a press release on Saturday, June 28, that he is giving away $6 billion in Berkshire Hathaway shares to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust and four other charities. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust is one charity that Buffet has worked closely with over the years, as he has served as a trustee for the charity between 2006 and 2021. According to the trust's website, Buffett has pledged a total of $36 billion to the charity through 2022. Another charity that will be receiving a portion of the $6 billion is the charity he started with his first wife, the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation, which is focused on family planning and reproductive health. The Sherwood Foundation, Howard G. Buffett Foundation and NoVo Foundation, which were founded by his three adult children Susan, 72, Howard, 70, and Peter, 67, respectively, will also get a portion of the funds. The donations will be delivered to the charities on June 30. He converted over 8,000 Class A shares and over 12 million Class B shares of Berkshire Hathaway shares in order to make the donation, which is his largest donation since 2006, according to Forbes. 'The mathematics of the lifetime commitments to the five foundations are interesting,' Buffet said in a statement. 'The schedule for annual grants was made on June 26, 2006, and has since been supplemented by significant grants to four of the five recipients.' 'When originally made, I owned 474,998 Berkshire A shares worth about $43 billion and those shares represented more than 98% of my net worth. I have converted A shares into B shares before making contributions,' he added. Buffett, whose estimated net worth is $152 billion, also shared in his statement that upon his death, 'about 99½%' of his estate is 'destined for philanthropic usage,' per his will. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Last year it was reported that the Nebraska businessman planned to donate his fortune to a charitable trust after his death, according to the Associated Press. His three children would be in charge of the trust and have 10 years to allocate the money to charities of their choice. 'It's not so easy to give away money if you want to do it smart, if you want to be intelligent about it,' Howard told the AP in September 2024. 'It's pretty amazing that he's giving us this opportunity.' He also plans to continue to donate to the Gates Foundation and to his family's charities annually until his death, per AP. Read the original article on People Inicia sesión para acceder a tu portafolio
Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Gov. Tim Walz gives eulogy for former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman's funeral
Democratic former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman was honored for her legislative accomplishments and her humanity during a funeral Saturday where former President Joe Biden and former Vice President Kamala Harris joined the over 1,000 mourners.
Gizmodo
23 minutes ago
- Gizmodo
Trump and His Online Alpha Males Have a Meltdown Over NYC's Newest Socialist Star
Zohran Mamdani has managed to do something rare in today's fractured political climate: he has united a faction of the Democratic establishment with an army of online alpha males in shared outrage. Since his victory in the Democratic primary for mayor of New York on June 24, the socialist assemblyman has been subjected to a relentless and violent online onslaught, particularly from the influencers of the self described manosphere. For these men, who view feminism, wokeness, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion as existential threats, the attacks are constant. Through a torrent of posts, memes, and reposts, their message boils down to two simple lines: Mamdani, 33, is 'dangerous' because he is a 'socialist,' and he will ruin New York. He must be stopped at all costs. This campaign has taken on a special urgency given that in deep blue New York City, the Democratic candidate is heavily favored to win the mayoralty. The operation to stop Mamdani received its kickoff from the highest level of the Republican party. 'The Democrats have crossed the line,' President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social on June 25. 'Zohran Mamdani, a 100% Communist Lunatic, has just won the Democratic Primary, and is on his way to becoming Mayor.' Trump's post signaled the start of a coordinated effort. Realizing a Republican victory would be difficult, if not impossible, pro-Trump billionaire Bill Ackman is offering to fund a 'centrist' candidate willing to challenge Mamdani in the November election. He framed this as a heroic mission to save New York from impending doom. 'New York City under Mamdani is about to become much more dangerous and economically unviable,' Ackman wrote in a lengthy post pinned to his X profile on June 26. 'If someone is ready to raise their hand, I will take care of the fundraising,' he offered, attempting to entice a challenger. 'This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for the right candidate. More importantly, it is an opportunity to save our City and be a superhero. Life is short and you must dare to be great.' I awoke this morning gravely concerned about New York City. I thought 'What has NYC become that an avowed socialist who has supported defunding the police, whose solution to lowering food prices is city-owned supermarkets, who doesn't understand that freezing rents will only… — Bill Ackman (@BillAckman) June 26, 2025Mamdani is a 33‑year‑old Ugandan‑born, naturalized Muslim American state legislator whose progressive platform—fare‑free buses, public child care, rent freezes, wealth taxes—has energized grassroots support. His upset win over Andrew Cuomo represents both a generational and ideological shift within the Democratic Party. His ascent has particularly inspired Muslim, South Asian, and immigrant communities, even as it triggers alarm among conservative and establishment circles Within the core manosphere, sometimes known as the red pill community, which often spreads ideas of white supremacy under the guise of protecting Western civilization, Mamdani is described as an anti white racist. 'Mamdani has been posting racist, anti white musings for over a decade,' conservative activist Charlie Kirk posted on X on June 27. Kirk resurrected a 2013 tweet from Mamdani that quoted comedian Hari Kondabolu criticizing systemic inequality. 'I guess white New Yorkers hate themselves so much they'll vote for him anyway. Sad!!' Kirk deduced. His post quickly generated over half a million views, flooded with comments calling for Mamdani's deportation. Mamdani has been posting racist, anti-white musings for over a decade. I guess white New Yorkers hate themselves so much they'll vote for him anyways. Sad!! — Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) June 27, 2025The quote in question reads, 'The invisible hand of the market, my ass. That hand is white and wearing a ring with a conflict diamond in it.' The line, which Mamdani posted on December 19, 2013, is a satirical critique of capitalism. It riffs on Adam Smith's famous concept of the 'invisible hand' to suggest that markets are not as neutral as claimed, especially for marginalized communities. But in the manosphere, reality and nuance are words that rarely find purchase, especially when they might disrupt a narrative. Other prominent commentators have joined the pile on. Ben Shapiro shared a meme anticipating an exodus of the wealthy from New York to Florida because 'maniacs' have 'blew' the city up. Conservative pundit Matt Walsh claimed Mamdani's victory is tantamount to New York's destruction, making sure to point out that Mamdani is 'Muslim.' 'New Yorkers Embrace The Destruction Of Their City By Voting For Socialist Muslim Mayor,' Walsh posted on X. He has since accused Mamdani of wanting to 'castrate children with tax money, nationalize grocery stores, and abolish the police in the name of 'queer liberation.'' Walsh also attacked Mamdani's citizenship. 'Mamdani became a US citizen in 2018,' he posted. 'Two years later, he was already working to tear down monuments to our historical icons. The incredible arrogance and entitlement of this whiney, ungrateful brat.' Mamdani became a US citizen in 2018. Two years later he was already working to tear down monuments to our historical icons. The incredible arrogance and entitlement of this whiney, ungrateful brat. — Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) June 27, 2025The attacks are not limited to culture warriors. 'The problem with socialism: eventually you run out of other people's money,' charged Congressman Mike Lawler, a New York Republican. 'New York City is headed for disaster if Zohran becomes Mayor.' The problem with socialism: eventually you run out of other people's money. New York City is headed for disaster if Zohran becomes Mayor. — Mike Lawler (@lawler4ny) June 27, 2025Even prominent liberals have joined the hunt, attacking Mamdani's platform. Former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers took aim at his housing policy. 'Rent control is the second best way to destroy a city, after bombing,' he criticized, adding, 'I think this is likely to exacerbate rather than improve issues around housing affordability in New York. This would be a gross policy error by @ZohranKMamdani.' Rent control is the second-best way to destroy a city, after bombing. And, because of what it leads to in terms of under investment in repairing, maintaining, constructing new apartments, I think this is likely to exacerbate rather than improve issues around housing affordability… — Lawrence H. Summers (@LHSummers) June 27, 2025Meanwhile, conservative journalist Daniel Greenfield questioned Mamdani's appearance in 'a terror mosque that prayed for Hamas to win, cursed Jews and Christians, and teaching urged their children to hate everything about America,' implying Mamdani is an anti-Semitic, anti-American radical. Zohran Mamdani tweeted about his appearance at a terror mosque that prayed for Hamas to win, cursed Jews and Christians, and urged teaching their children to hate everything about America /1 — Daniel Greenfield – "Hang Together or Separately" (@Sultanknish) June 28, 2025For his part, Mamdani campaigned on the high cost of living in New York. His victory upsets the balance within a Democratic Party still finding its footing after the last presidential election. As November approaches, the attacks will only intensify. The lines of assault are clear: he is dangerous because he is Muslim; he will drive away the rich because he is a socialist; and he is an anti Semitic, anti white radical. The manosphere and its allies are using a potent combination of anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant tropes to try and bring him down.
