Jane Nelson | |
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115th Secretary of State of Texas | |
Assumed office January 5, 2023 | |
Governor | Greg Abbott |
Preceded by | John Scott |
President pro tempore of the Texas Senate | |
In office June 2,2003 –April 20,2004 | |
Preceded by | Eddie Lucio Jr. |
Succeeded by | Jeff Wentworth |
Member of the Texas Senate | |
In office January 1,1993 –January 3,2023 | |
Preceded by | Bob Glasgow |
Succeeded by | Tan Parker |
Constituency | 22nd district (1993–1995) 9th district (1995–2003) 12th district (2003–2023) |
Personal details | |
Born | Hamilton,Ohio,U.S. | October 5,1951
Political party | Republican |
Spouse | Michael Nelson |
Children | 5 |
Education | University of North Texas (BS) |
Website | Official website |
Jane Gray Nelson [1] (born October 5,1951) [2] is an American businesswoman and former school teacher [3] who serves as the Secretary of State of Texas since 2023. She was a Texas state senator who represented Texas Senate District 12. She was elected to the Senate in 1992 after serving two two-year terms (1988–1992) on the Texas State Board of Education. In 2023,Governor Greg Abbott appointed Nelson to succeed John B. Scott as Secretary of State. [4] She was sworn in to that office on Saturday,January 7.
In October 2019,the Texas Parent Teacher Association named Nelson a Texas PTA Champion for Children for her leadership during the 86th legislative session. [5]
In July 2021,Nelson announced she would not seek an 11th term to the Texas Senate. [6]
In 2014 Nelson was appointed chair of the Senate Finance Committee,the first woman of either party to hold that position. In that capacity she authored four state budgets. Her chairmanship ended in January 2022. [7] In June 2022,the Senate Finance committee dedicated its conference room to Nelson. [8]