Former state Sen. Don Huffines, an ultraconservative who challenged Gov. Greg Abbott in 2022, won the GOP primary for comptroller Tuesday night, trouncing the governor’s chosen candidate to be the state’s chief financial officer.
Huffines defeated Kelly Hancock, a former state senator from North Richland Hills who has served as acting comptroller since July. He also bested Railroad Commissioner Christi Craddick and fourth place candidate Michael Berlanga.
Abbott appointed Hancock to the post last year after the previous comptroller stepped down. In the waning days of the campaign, the governor spent millions of dollars trying to boost Hancock to no avail.
