Texas has a new chief election officer, and he takes over with the November midterms fewer than four months away. Robert Howden became the state’s 116th secretary of state on July 18, one day after Jane Nelson stepped down. He has not been confirmed, and for now he does not have to be. An interim appointee can run the office until the Texas Senate weighs his confirmation in January, which means th…
July 23, 2026
