State Representative Nate Schatzline, a Republican from Fort Worth, resigned from the Texas House on Thursday to accept a new position within the administration of Governor Greg Abbott. He will serve as the governor’s senior adviser on election policy, a role that involves leading policy development and legislative strategy efforts focused on election integrity, according to an announcement from the governor’s office.
Schatzline, who represented a Tarrant County district for two terms, is known as a hardline conservative. His new portfolio is expected to prioritize closing Texas primary elections, a measure that would require voters to register with a political party to participate in nominating contests. Governor Abbott publicly supported this change at the Texas GOP convention last month, and the proposal has been added to the party’s policy wishlist by delegates. Republican activists have long advocated for closed primaries, arguing that independent and Democratic voters have influenced outcomes in GOP contests. Conversely, other Republicans, including U.S. Senator John Cornyn, have opposed the idea, contending it would reduce voter participation.
During his time in the legislature, Schatzline authored House Bill 4059 in the 2025 session, which sought to close primary elections. The bill was referred to the elections committee but never received a hearing. He also introduced legislation last year that would have restricted mail-in voting to residents aged 65 and older, eliminating eligibility for those with disabilities, illnesses, or those confined in jail prior to conviction. That bill also failed to pass.
Despite his focus on election policy, Schatzline had limited direct involvement in passing election laws during his tenure. He did not serve on the House elections committee, and no bill he sponsored as the primary author reached the governor’s desk for signature. He previously served as senior director of the National Faith Advisory Board in the Trump administration.
Schatzline has previously asserted that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from former President Donald Trump. At a November event in Abilene honoring conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was killed in September, Schatzline praised attendees for serving as election judges to prevent a similar outcome. He ended a campaign for an open state Senate seat earlier this year after Republican activist Leigh Wambsganss entered the race with the endorsement of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. Wambsganss lost the special election to Democrat Taylor Rehmet, and the two will face each other again in November.
