Gov. Greg Abbott appointed David Whitley as the 112th secretary of state of Texas on December 17, 2018. Whitley replaces outgoing Secretary of State Rolando Pablos.

“David has been an invaluable member of my administration for over a decade, both in my time as attorney general and during the entirety of my first term as governor,” said Abbott in a press release. “He has a keen understanding of the election process, and has served as a top advisor for international relations with the office of the governor. I am confident that in his new role as secretary of state, David will continue to safeguard the integrity of our elections and maintain Texas’ standing on the international stage.”

Whitley most recently served as deputy chief of staff to Abbott. Previously, he served as appointments director and assistant deputy attorney general. Whitley received his law degree from the University of Texas School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 2012.