Gov. Abbott taps Don Huffines for Texas CFO opening

Key Points:

• Gov. Greg Abbott appointed Don Huffines, a former Republican state senator and GOP primary winner, as Texas comptroller of public accounts for the remainder of the year following Kelly Hancock's resignation.
• Huffines, who defeated Hancock in the GOP primary and is running against Democrat Sarah Eckhardt in November, brings business experience and conservative principles to the role, according to Abbott.
• The comptroller oversees tax collection, state spending audits, contract management, revenue estimation, and administration of the state's $1 billion education voucher program, which Huffines supports.
• Eckhardt criticized the appointment as circumventing voters and pledged to be a watchdog against corporate favoritism, contrasting with Huffines' self-described "MAGA warrior" stance and focus on limited government.
• Huffines aims to run a lean government, protect taxpayer dollars, and implement conservative policies including opposition to "woke" ideology and ensuring no state funds go to undocumented individuals.