Dave Clark is reportedly mulling a 2026 gubernatorial run in Texas following his shocking resignation as CEO of the freight and logistics firm Flexport.
Clark, a former longtime Amazon executive widely credited with building out the company’s shipping business, has hired political consultants in the Lone Star State to explore a run, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter.
The sources described Clark as a moderate Republican — setting him up for a potential faceoff with current Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a conservative who handed a resounding defeat to Democratic challenger Beto O’Rourke last November.
Abbott, 65, has yet to indicate whether he will pursue a fourth term in office in 2026.
Clark appeared to confirm his political aspirations, writing “God Bless Texas” in response to a Wall Street Journal reporter’s post about the article.
Clark’s resignation came as a surprise to much of the tech sector. Just one year ago, he left Amazon following a two-decade stint to join Flexport with a mandate to expand the digital-centric logistics firm’s operations.
As of this year, the company has an $8 billion valuation.
As recently as this week, Clark had posted on LinkedIn about his upcoming appearance at an “exclusive launch event” for Flexport in Seattle.
Clark purportedly had “a tough time transitioning from the much-larger Amazon” to his work at Flexport and its emphasis on client relationships, according to Bloomberg, which cited a person familiar with the matter.
Additionally, Clark had reportedly “bristled” about criticism over his leadership style not long before his resignation, the report said.
It’s unclear what role Clark’s apparent political aspirations played in his decision to leave Flexport.
Clark initially worked as co-CEO alongside Flexport founder Ryan Petersen, but took over sole control of the role in March.
Petersen will return to replace Clark as the company’s CEO.
“Today, Ryan and I discussed his desire to return to focusing on growth in the core freight business. In light of that, I feel that he is best suited to lead the company in that direction,” Clark said in a statement.
Clark had developed a cutthroat reputation during his stint at Amazon, earning the nickname “The Sniper” over his eagerness to slash underperforming employees at the company’s warehouses, according to a 2019 Bloomberg profile.
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