So this guy became election commissioner for a third term because the Dems are holding up Trump nominees!
appointed
https://www.eac.gov/news/2026/02/24/commissioner-thomas-hicks-begins-term-eac-chairman
Thomas Hicks became an Election Commissioner (specifically, a Commissioner of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, or EAC) through the standard federal appointment process for the agency, and he assumed the role of EAC Chairman via an internal rotation among the commissioners.The EAC is an independent, bipartisan federal agency established by the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA) to assist election officials, support voting system improvements, enhance accessibility, and provide resources for elections.Becoming an EAC CommissionerUnder HAVA, the EAC has four commissioners, with no more than two from the same political party. The appointment process is as follows:Commissioners are nominated by the President based on recommendations from the majority and minority leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate.
Nominees must have relevant experience or expertise in elections.
The U.S. Senate then provides advice and consent through confirmation.
For Thomas Hicks (a Democrat):He was nominated by President Barack Obama.
He received unanimous confirmation by the Senate on December 16, 2014.
He was sworn in and began serving in January 2015.
Commissioners serve four-year terms, renewable for one additional consecutive term, and can continue in a holdover capacity if a successor is not yet appointed.
Hicks has continued serving since then (over 11 years as of 2026), likely including reappointment or holdover status.Becoming EAC ChairmanThe Chairman role is separate from the initial commissioner appointment:The chairmanship rotates among the four commissioners, typically on an annual basis.
It is determined internally by the commissioners (often by vote or agreement, as needed for operational matters).
Hicks began his one-year term as Chairman on February 24, 2026, succeeding outgoing Chairman Donald Palmer (whose chair term ran from February 2025 to February 2026).
Christy McCormick serves as Vice Chair during this period.
This rotation is reflected in the February 24, 2026, EAC announcement, where Hicks assumes the chair role to lead the agency during the midterm elections cycle, focusing on priorities like voting system security, accessibility, and training.In summary, Hicks first became a commissioner via presidential nomination and Senate confirmation in 2014–2015, and he became chairman through the EAC's routine internal leadership rotation in 2026. No special or unusual process was involved beyond these established mechanisms.