Gov. Abbott Appoints New Secretary of State
Howden, Abbott’s legislative affairs director, will oversee Texas elections until Senate confirmation as officials brace for November voting disputes.
- On Friday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott appointed senior advisor Robert Howden as the 116th Texas Secretary of State, succeeding Jane Nelson who stepped down after three and a half years.
- Howden, who has served in four Republican administrations, previously led major business associations including NFIB-Texas and the Texas Association of Manufacturers.
- The appointment comes less than four months before the 2026 midterm elections, placing Howden in charge of election administration amid the Texas GOP's lawsuit to close the state's open primary system.
- Political science professor Cal Jillson noted Howden bears close watching regarding voter roll oversight, saying, "One of the more controversial things that former Texas Secretaries of State have done is to engage in purging of the voter rolls."
- Legislative confirmation by the Texas Senate awaits Howden when lawmakers return to Austin in 2027; he assumes the role Saturday without immediate approval, though three of his predecessors resigned before winning such a vote.
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20 Articles
The Dallas Express News
wbap.comRobert Howden Appointed Texas Secretary Of State Ahead Of 2026 Midterm Elections
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has appointed longtime adviser Robert S. Howden as the state’s next Secretary of State, placing a veteran of four Republican gubernatorial administrations in one of Texas’ highest-profile government positions ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Abbott announced that Howden will become the 116th Texas Secretary of State, effective July 18, succeeding Jane Nelson. “Robert Howden has served Texas with distinction in four Re…
Texas Has a New Secretary of State
Gov. Abbott Appoints Robert Howden as Secretary of State -Fort Bend County Grand Jury Indicts Arcola Mayor on Five Felonies -Fort Worth Weighs Data Center Pause as Zoning Rules Sent Back to Council The post Texas Has a New Secretary of State appeared first on Texas Scorecard.
Robert Howden, Abbott aide, to succeed Jane Nelson as Texas’ top election official
This story was first published by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.Votebeat is a nonprofit news organization reporting on voting access and election administration across the U.S. Sign up for Votebeat Texas’ free newsletter here.Robert Howden, a senior adviser to Gov. Greg Abbott, will be Texas’ interim secre…
It reviews the latest news from Texas and Abbott's new appointment: I knew who Robert Howden is and his importance as Secretary of State.
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