Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson stepping down
The Texas Tribune • • nation
Key Points:
- Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson announced her resignation effective July 17, ending her three and a half years as the state’s top election official, with no reason provided for her departure.
- Governor Greg Abbott praised Nelson's service and is required by law to nominate a replacement promptly, though no timeline or candidate has been disclosed.
- Nelson, a former longtime state senator and the first woman to lead the Senate Finance Committee, was the first secretary of state confirmed by the Senate since 2017 and oversaw seven statewide elections during her tenure.
- Her office complied with a DOJ request for the full voter roll, including sensitive personal data, drawing criticism from election security and voting rights groups over privacy concerns.
- Nelson’s use of the SAVE database to verify voter citizenship led to lawsuits alleging inaccuracies and potential voter disenfranchisement, and her office has faced criticism over ongoing issues with the state’s election management system, TEAM.