Nate Schatzline Quits Texas House for Abbott Election Post as 2026 Secretary of State Vacancy Looms
Updated
Updated · The Texas Tribune · Jul 2
Nate Schatzline Quits Texas House for Abbott Election Post as 2026 Secretary of State Vacancy Looms
3 articles · Updated · The Texas Tribune · Jul 2
Summary
Texas Rep. Nate Schatzline resigned Thursday to become Gov. Greg Abbott’s senior adviser on election policy, leaving the House after two terms.
Abbott said Schatzline will lead policy development and legislative strategy on “election integrity,” a portfolio expected to include closing Texas primaries before the 2027 session.
That push would require voters to register with a party for nominating contests, a longtime Texas GOP goal that Abbott endorsed last month but opponents including Sen. John Cornyn say would curb participation.
The move comes after Secretary of State Jane Nelson said she will step down in mid-July, fueling recent speculation that Schatzline could be considered for Texas’ top elections post ahead of the 2026 midterms.
Schatzline has backed hardline voting measures, including a failed 2025 bill to close primaries and a proposal to sharply limit mail voting, while also falsely claiming Trump won the 2020 election.