Gov. Greg Abbott appointed Robert S. Howden, a veteran Capitol adviser and former business-group leader, as Texas’ 116th Secretary of State Friday, effective July 18. Howden will serve on an interim basis and will need Senate confirmation when the Legislature returns in January.
Howden will lead the state agency that advises county election officials, handles ballot certification, provides legal interpretations of election law and works to ensure laws are applied uniformly. The office also maintains business and commercial filings, publishes the Texas Register, commissions notaries public and keeps the state seal.
Howden also becomes the governor’s lead liaison for Texas border and Mexican affairs and the state’s chief international protocol officer. In those roles, he will help manage Texas-Mexico issues, receive foreign delegations and represent the governor and state in meetings with international officials.
Howden has served since September 2024 as a senior adviser and director of legislative affairs in Abbott’s office. He previously worked as an independent legislative and public affairs consultant.
Under former Gov. Rick Perry, Howden was communications director and senior adviser and oversaw the governor’s Task Force on Economic Development Growth. He also led the Texas chapter of the National Federation of Independent Business and earlier worked for the Texas Department of Commerce. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin.
Photo from LinkedIn
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