Fort Worth Republican Rep. Nate Schatzline, who is also a pastor, resigned from the Texas House on Thursday to join Gov. Greg Abbott’s office as a senior adviser on election policy. The move gives Abbott a close ally just as the governor and the state GOP are pushing major changes to how Texans vote. The appointment follows Secretary of State Jane Nelson’s announcement this month that she would step down in mid‑July.
Abbott’s office said Schatzline will lead policy development and legislative strategy efforts related to election integrity, and the governor praised him as a dedicated conservative leader, according to The Texas Tribune. The Texas Tribune also reported that Schatzline had been floated in recent weeks in unconfirmed reports as a potential pick for secretary of state before this hire.
Schatzline posted on social media that he had officially resigned from his House seat and thanked constituents in District 93, according to the Fort Worth Star‑Telegram. The paper notes he had already said he would not seek re‑election and most recently served as senior director of the National Faith Advisory Board after briefly pursuing an open state Senate seat.
Policy Focus: Closed Primaries And Mail‑Vote Limits
Abbott has signaled that closing primary elections, which would require voters to register with a party to cast a nominating ballot, will be a top legislative priority, and Schatzline is expected to drive that work, The Texas Tribune reports. During the 2025 session he authored a bill to that effect that was referred to the elections committee but never got a hearing, and the Texas Legislature’s records show he filed HB 4964, a measure that would have limited voting by mail to voters 65 or older.
Election Officials And Advocates Raise Alarms
County clerks, voting groups and watchdogs say installing a partisan ally in a top elections role could complicate administration of the November contests. "We don't get to see if this person is qualified to do the job and do an actual job interview until they've gotten to do the most single most important function of this job," Anthony Gutierrez of Common Cause Texas told Texas Public Radio. Local election officials have also flagged that Schatzline has little hands‑on election administration experience and has amplified false claims about the 2020 vote.
What Happens To His Seat And The Calendar
Schatzline’s resignation creates a vacancy in House District 93; under the Texas Constitution the governor issues writs of election to fill legislative vacancies, meaning the seat will remain open until a special election is ordered. Article III, Section 13 of the Texas Constitution lays out that process, and the timing of any election could affect local politics and turnout ahead of the midterms.
Abbott’s pick places a lawmaker who has championed tighter voting rules squarely inside the governor’s strategy team, setting the stage for policy fights in Austin and in the courts over primaries, mail voting and other parts of the election apparatus as the state heads toward a consequential fall. Advocates and county officials are likely to closely scrutinize guidance and any administrative moves coming from the governor’s office in the weeks ahead.
