Texas governor to name new secretary of state ahead of midterms

Texas is preparing to appoint a new secretary of state weeks before midterm elections. The outgoing official announced her resignation earlier this month and is scheduled to leave office July 17. The governor selects the secretary of state. A state lawmaker and pastor has emerged as the leading candidate, according to local election officials.

Candidate background The lawmaker has sponsored multiple election-related bills in the current legislative session after authoring none in his first term. He has publicly stated that mail-in ballots and voting machines produced widespread fraud. The candidate did not respond to an interview request. A spokesperson for the governor said an announcement would come at a later date.

Local officials' concerns The executive director of the Texas Association of County Election Officials prepared an analysis for members on how the reported frontrunner might approach the role. The report contrasted past secretaries of state, who focused on stabilizing relationships with county officials, with a potential "disruptor model" that would be more ideological and enforcement-oriented.

The analysis noted the candidate has never run an election, managed a polling place, or operated a county voter registration database. It warned that lack of experience could lead to directives that prove logistically difficult for local administrators.

The executive director of Common Cause Texas said the timing of the appointment allows the new secretary of state to serve in an acting capacity through the November election without legislative confirmation until next year.