Without the Senate's rubber stamp before the regular legislative session ends May 27, Kitzman would be forced to leave her office. Her term is up.

Senate Nominations Committee Chairman Glenn Hegar Jr., R-Katy, says he, as late as May 21, has listened to "adamant" Senators for and against Kitzman, who was appointed in 2011 by Gov. Rick Perry to take over for Mike Geeslin after he left the post midterm. However, no one, including Perry, appears ready to go to bat for Kitzman, who never made it on the committee agenda.

Without going into specifics, Hegar says those against Kitzman are upset with the "way [Kitzman has] handled some issues." Lawmakers have previously spoken about the commissioner's tendency to approve homeowners' rate hikes without much scrutiny.

Kitzman was a friend to the insurance industry in Texas. Mark Hanna, spokesman with the Insurance Council of Texas, says Kitzman "was one of our most experienced and knowledgeable commissioners."

"It is unfortunate that we will be losing her," Hanna adds.

Hegar, whose district includes coastal areas with homeowners unhappy about paying more for insurance, says the refusal to nominate Kitzman for another term is a bipartisan action. Hegar acknowledged Kitzman as a "hard worker" who has "done her best" with complex issues but regardless of who sits as insurance commissioner, "there is going to be significant criticism."

Kitzman, who was director of the South Carolina Department of Insurance before coming to Texas, appears to have not played politics in the Lone Star State well, according to sources. Hegar went so far as to says her nomination process fell prey to state "political issues."

Perry will nominate a new insurance commissioner, who will not face confirmation until the next legislative session. Texas lawmakers meet every other year. It is unclear if Perry will name an interim commissioner, or when he will do either.