# Kent Hance | Best in Government Affairs TX 2026 > Kent Hance, The Honorable Kent R. Hance at Hance Scarborough, is a 2026 Best in Government Affairs Texas honoree, recognized as Lobby Legends of the Year. Canonical: https://www.uslege.ai/best-in-government-affairs/texas/2026/kent-hance --- [Best in Government Affairs](/best-in-government-affairs)› [Texas](/best-in-government-affairs/texas)› [2026](/best-in-government-affairs/texas#honorees)› [Lobby Legends of the Year](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/most-powerful-lobbyists)› **Kent Hance** USLege · Best in Government Affairs · Texas Texas · 2026 Honoree ![Kent Hance, The Honorable Kent R. Hance at Hance Scarborough. Winner, Lobby Legends of the Year, 2026 Best in Government Affairs Texas](/assets/awards/tx-2026/kent-hance.jpg) Category [Lobby Legends of the Year](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/most-powerful-lobbyists) Organization [Hance Scarborough](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/firms#hance-scarborough) Title The Honorable Kent R. Hance [View LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/kent-hance/) [Visit Hance Scarborough](https://hancescarborough.com) [07 · Lobby Legends of the Year](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/most-powerful-lobbyists) # Kent Hance **The Honorable Kent R. Hance**, Hance Scarborough Kent Hance, The Honorable Kent R. Hance at Hance Scarborough, is a 2026 Best in Government Affairs Texas honoree in the Lobby Legends of the Year category. The awards are peer-nominated. A statesman, strategist, and storyteller, The Honorable Kent Hance has shaped Texas politics and policy across nearly five decades of public service and leadership. His career spans the Texas Legislature, the U.S. Congress, the Texas Railroad Commission, and the chancellorship of the Texas Tech University System. This résumé reads like a history of modern Texas government. As Chancellor, Hance led Texas Tech to unprecedented heights: raising more than $1.2 billion, expanding enrollment by 45%, and opening a new medical school in El Paso. Before that, as a U.S. Congressman, he carried President Ronald Reagan’s landmark federal tax cut; still regarded as one of the most significant in American history. Hance’s leadership has extended far beyond elected office. As Chairman of the Texas Railroad Commission, advisor to governors and presidents, and founder of Hance Scarborough LLP, he has been a constant force in business, energy, and public affairs. His firm continues to serve clients at the intersection of law, regulation, and government with the same pragmatic spirit that has defined his life’s work. As one of this year’s Lobby Legends, Kent Hance represents the enduring influence, institutional knowledge, and steady leadership that have defined the very best of Texas public service. Share this honor [Share on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.uslege.ai%2Fbest-in-government-affairs%2Ftexas%2F2026%2Fkent-hance) [Share on X](https://x.com/intent/post?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.uslege.ai%2Fbest-in-government-affairs%2Ftexas%2F2026%2Fkent-hance&text=Kent%20Hance%3A%20Lobby%20Legends%20of%20the%20Year%2C%202026%20Best%20in%20Government%20Affairs%20Texas) Same category ## More _Lobby Legends of the Year_ honorees. [![](/assets/awards/tx-2026/thumbs/rusty-kelley.jpg) **Rusty Kelley**Blackridge](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/2026/rusty-kelley)[![](/assets/awards/tx-2026/thumbs/robert-miller.jpg) **Robert Miller**Troutman Pepper Locke ](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/2026/robert-miller)[![](/assets/awards/tx-2026/thumbs/mike-toomey.jpg) **Mike Toomey**Mike Toomey & Associates ](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/2026/mike-toomey)[![](/assets/awards/tx-2026/thumbs/mignon-mcgarry.jpg) **Mignon McGarry**Mignon McGarry & Associates ](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/2026/mignon-mcgarry)[![](/assets/awards/tx-2026/thumbs/john-r-pitts-sr.jpg) **John R. Pitts, Sr.**Texas Star Alliance ](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/2026/john-r-pitts-sr)[![](/assets/awards/tx-2026/thumbs/jay-howard.jpg) **Jay Howard**HillCo Partners ](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/2026/jay-howard)[![](/assets/awards/tx-2026/thumbs/jack-erskine.jpg) **Jack Erskine**Self-employed ](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/2026/jack-erskine)[![](/assets/awards/tx-2026/thumbs/gavin-massingill.jpg) **Gavin Massingill**Carriage House Partners ](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/2026/gavin-massingill)[![](/assets/awards/tx-2026/thumbs/buddy-jones.jpg) **Buddy Jones**HillCo Partners ](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/2026/buddy-jones)[![](/assets/awards/tx-2026/thumbs/brad-shields.jpg) **Brad Shields**Texas Legislative Associates](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/2026/brad-shields) Also honored from [Hance Scarborough](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/firms#hance-scarborough): [Louie Sanchez](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/2026/louie-sanchez). [All Texas honorees](/best-in-government-affairs/texas#honorees) [Lobby Legends of the Year](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/most-powerful-lobbyists) [Honorees by firm](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/firms) The platform behind the awards ## Track the Texas Legislature the way _honorees do_. USLege covers every Texas bill, hearing, and floor debate with live video, transcripts, and cited AI answers. See why the people on this page use it. [Explore USLege Texas](/states/texas) [Built for lobbyists](/for/lobbyists)