Former State Sen. Don Huffines decisively won the Republican primary for comptroller Tuesday night, defeating the acting comptroller hand-picked by Gov. Greg Abbott by more than 30 points. Huffines, a businessman from Dallas, secured 57% of the vote, while Acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock secured only 24%. Christi Craddick, who now sits on the Railroad Commission, received about 15% of the vote. As the state’s chief financial officer, the comptroller oversees the state treasury, collects taxes, and provides accurate revenue estimates to guide the biennial budgeting process, according to the Texas Comptroller’s website. Abbott earlier appointed former Texas State Senator Hancock as acting comptroller when the incumbent Glen Hegar took a job as the chancellor of the Texas AM University System. The position is important to Abbott because it will oversee the new school-choice voucher program, which allocates $1 billion in public funds to help families attend private schools. It was Abbott’s top priority in the legislature last year. “I endorse Kelly Hancock because I want a candidate who will actually win the election, not someone who has already lost an election to a Democrat,” Abbott said in the statement, seemingly referring to Huffines, who was the incumbent in Texas Senate District 16 when he lost to Democrat Nathan Johnson in 2018. Huffines challenged Abbott for the governor’s mansion in the 2022 Republican primary, but secured only about 12% of the vote, compared to Abbott’s 67%. Huffines will face off against Texas Sen. Sarah Eckhardt, D-Austin, in the November midterm elections. Election Day is Nov. 3. Decision 2026 23 hours ago Cornyn, Paxton headed to runoff for GOP U.S. Senate nomination Decision 2026 23 hours ago Talarico wins Democratic Senate primary; Crockett concedes and calls to unify party Decision 2026 22 hours ago Gov. Abbott projected to face Gina Hinojosa in November midterm ...read more read less