Ruth Hughs

BIOGRAPHY

Ruth Hughs is the managing partner of the Austin office and a Texas lobbyist at Kelly Hart and Hallman. She chairs the firm’s Public Law group, helping businesses navigate local and state government affairs.

Previously, Ms. Hughs served as the 113th Secretary of State for Texas, appointed by Governor Greg Abbott in 2019. She took on key roles such as Chief Election Officer, Chief International Protocol Officer, and the Governor’s Chief Advisor and Liaison to Mexico and the border region.

Prior to her role as Secretary of State, she was Chair and Commissioner Representing Employers at the Texas Workforce Commission from 2015 to 2019, where she introduced programs like Operation Welcome Home for veterans, We Hire Vets, Women’s Business Conferences, and Jobs Y’all.

Her earlier career includes roles as Assistant Deputy for Civil Litigation and Director of Defense Civil Litigation, overseeing divisions at the Attorney General’s Office under then Attorney General Greg Abbott.

Currently, Ms. Hughs chairs the Texas Science and Engineering Fair, sponsored by Exxon and the Texas Workforce Commission, hosted at A&M Engineering in College Station. She also serves on several boards, including UTEACH, the UT Center for Women in Law, the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, the Argentina-Texas Chamber of Commerce, the State Highway 130 Advisory Board, and the Long Center Performing Arts Center Executive Board. Additionally, she holds the title of Honorary Consul of Spain in Central Texas and has been recognized as Texas Woman of Influence, Great Woman of Texas, and Woman of Distinction by various organizations.

Outside of her professional endeavors, she dedicates her time to philanthropic efforts alongside her children through organizations like the National Charity League and Young Men’s Service League.

AFFILIATIONS

• Texas Bar Association
• Austin Bar Association
• Greater Austin Chamber Board, Vice Chair of Economic Development
• Hispanic Bar Association of Austin
• Travis County Women Lawyers’ Association
• Austin Chamber of Commerce, Board
• National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS), Emeritus
• Austin Chamber of Commerce, Executive Board Member, Vice Chair of Economic Development
• Texas Association of Business, Mexico Trade and Investment Policy Council Advisory Committee
• Long Center, Executive Board Member At-Large
• UTeach Natural Sciences at The University of Texas at Austin, UTeach Advisory Council
• Texas Science and Engineering Fair (TXSEF) Advisory Board Chair
• Pro Bono College of the State Bar of Texas, 2023
• World Affairs Council of Austin
• University of Texas at Austin School of Law, Women’s Power Summit Advisory Board Member
• Argentina-Texas Chamber of Commerce, Member
• Women’s Symphony League, Member
• National Charity League, Capital of Texas Chapter, Member
• Junior League of Austin, Sustaining Member

HONORS

• Honorary Consul to Spain in Austin
• 2025 Bridging Award Recipient, The Argentina–Texas Chamber of Commerce (ATCC)
• The Best Lawyers in America®, 2024-2026
  • Administrative | Regulatory Law
  • Government Relations
• Texas Association of Mexican American Chambers of Commerce 2024 Women of Distinction
• Texas Woman of Influence, Seguin Area Chamber of Commerce, 2023 
• Great Woman of Texas, Fort Worth Business Press, 2022
• Certificate in Leader Development, United States Army War College’s National Security Seminar
• The University of Texas at Austin School of Law, Center for Public Policy Dispute Resolution, Public Policy Fellow, 2018
• Texas Young Lawyers Rising Star, Thomson Reuters, 2006, 2009

EDUCATION

• Rutgers Camden School of Law, J.D., 1995
• University of Texas at Austin, B.A., 1991

ADMISSIONS

• State Bar of New Jersey, 1995
• State Bar of Texas, 2003

SPEECHES & PUBLICATIONS

• Moderator, Bridging Argentina and Texas 2025, Chamber of Commerce Buenos Aires, September 2025
• Moderator, Conversation with the New York Stock Exchange, TXEDC Investor Summit 2025 Texas Takeover: America’s New Financial Hub, September 2025
• Moderator, TXEDC Financial Hub Summit, Southlake, Texas, June 2025
• Moderator, AI-Energy Summit: Powering the Future, Southlake Foundation, June 2025
• Speaker, U.S.-Mexico Energy Dialogue: Key Takeaways, Texas’ Influence, and Future Prospects, Texas Mexico Summit, May 2025
• Moderator, “Manufacturing-Onshoring and Nearshoring,” YTexas Summit, October 2023
• Panelist, “Nearshoring: Mexico’s Golden Opportunity to Develop its Economy, Industry and Society,” 9th Mexico Gas Summit, June 2023
• Panelist, Texas-Panama Transportation Trade Mission, April 2023
• Moderator, International Relocations, 2021 YTexas “State of Business” Summit, September 2021