Secretary of State Hope Andrade resigned Tuesday, after four years as the state's chief elections official. Her last day in office will be Friday.

Andrade's office told the Associated Press she felt it was the "right time" to move on. She was the first Hispanic woman to hold the office, something Gov. Perry says will cement her place in Texas history.

"As the first Latina Secretary of State, Hope has a permanent place in our state’s history books and her personal commitment to making Texas a place of unlimited opportunity will leave a lasting impression on our state’s future. Her leadership was fundamental during five successful statewide elections, and we will all be blessed by her work to promote the Texas success story around the country and around the world. I’m thankful for her service and I’m proud to call her a friend. I wish her all the best as she continues to make our state a better place."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.