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Based on his legislative record, Duncan is considered a [[Moderate Republican]]. Along with colleagues Bob Deuell of Greenville, John Carona of [[Dallas]], Kevin Eltife of Tyler, and Kel Seliger of [[Amarillo]], he was named in 2013 among the most [[liberal]] members of the then nineteen Senate Republicans, according to an analysis by Mark P. Jones of [[Rice University]] in [[Houston, Texas|Houston]]. Jones also found that these Republicans saw passage of 90 percent of the bills for which they had voted.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lubbockonline.com/interact/blog-post/enriquerangel/2014-02-24/why-state-sen-kel-seliger-has-republican-primary#.Uxt638uPIfh|author=Enrique Rangel|title=Why state Sen. Kel Seliger has a Republican primary challenger|date=February 24, 2014|publisher=''Lubbock Avalanche-Journal''|accessdate=March 8, 2014}}</ref> In the 2014 primaries, Carona was narrowly defeated, and Deuell narrowly lost a runoff contest with fellow Republican and the more [[conservative]] Bob Hall.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://team1.sos.state.tx.us/enr/results/mar04_169_state.htm?x=0&y=218&id=176|title=Republican primary election returns, March 4, 2014|publisher=enr.sos.state.tx.us|accessdate=March 6, 2014}}</ref>
Based on his legislative record, Duncan is considered a [[Moderate Republican]]. Along with colleagues Bob Deuell of Greenville, John Carona of [[Dallas]], Kevin Eltife of Tyler, and Kel Seliger of [[Amarillo]], he was named in 2013 among the most [[liberal]] members of the then nineteen Senate Republicans, according to an analysis by Mark P. Jones of [[Rice University]] in [[Houston, Texas|Houston]]. Jones also found that these Republicans saw passage of 90 percent of the bills for which they had voted.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lubbockonline.com/interact/blog-post/enriquerangel/2014-02-24/why-state-sen-kel-seliger-has-republican-primary#.Uxt638uPIfh|author=Enrique Rangel|title=Why state Sen. Kel Seliger has a Republican primary challenger|date=February 24, 2014|publisher=''Lubbock Avalanche-Journal''|accessdate=March 8, 2014}}</ref> In the 2014 primaries, Carona was narrowly defeated, and Deuell narrowly lost a runoff contest with fellow Republican and the more [[conservative]] Bob Hall.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://team1.sos.state.tx.us/enr/results/mar04_169_state.htm?x=0&y=218&id=176|title=Republican primary election returns, March 4, 2014|publisher=enr.sos.state.tx.us|accessdate=March 6, 2014}}</ref>
==As Texas Tech chancellor==
After four years as the fourth chancellor of the Texas Tech System, Duncan suddenly announced his retirement on August 13, 2018, effective August 31. In his time at the helm, Duncan raised more than $585 million in philanthropic funds. The system endowment has grown to a total value of $1.3 billion. Records were established in degrees awarded, student enrollment, and expenditures on faculty research. In his retirement announcement, Duncan said serving the system has been the highlight of his career in public service. “As we approach the start of a new school year, I look back with pride on the tremendous strides we have made in recent years. But I have also reflected on my life, my decades of public service, and realize that, at 65, it’s time to retire, move on, and begin to tackle new challenges," Duncan said.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lubbockonline.com/news/20180813/chancellor-duncan-retiring-from-texas-tech-system|title=Chancellor Duncan retiring from Texas Tech System|publisher=''Lubbock Avalanche-Journal''|date=August 13, 2018|author=Sarah Self-Walbrick|accessdate=August 17, 2018}}</ref>
After four years as the fourth chancellor of the Texas Tech System, Duncan suddenly announced his retirement on August 13, 2018, effective August 31. In his time at the helm, Duncan raised more than $585 million in philanthropic funds. The system endowment has grown to a total value of $1.3 billion. Records were established in degrees awarded, student enrollment, and expenditures on faculty research. In his retirement announcement, Duncan said serving the system has been the highlight of his career in public service. “As we approach the start of a new school year, I look back with pride on the tremendous strides we have made in recent years. But I have also reflected on my life, my decades of public service, and realize that, at 65, it’s time to retire, move on, and begin to tackle new challenges," Duncan said.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lubbockonline.com/news/20180813/chancellor-duncan-retiring-from-texas-tech-system|title=Chancellor Duncan retiring from Texas Tech System|publisher=''Lubbock Avalanche-Journal''|date=August 13, 2018|author=Sarah Self-Walbrick|accessdate=August 17, 2018}}</ref>
Reports by the ''Lubbock Avalanche-Journal'' contend that the regents in a 5-4 vote expressed "No confidence" in Duncan continuing as the chancellor. Speculation persists that his unfavorable evaluation came from fallout over his plan to build a second state [[Veterinarian|veterinary]] medical school in Amarillo. The existing veterinary school is at [[Texas A&M University]] in College Station, which opposes building a second such facility. Republican Governor [[Greg Abbott]], who appointed the regents, denied rumors that he was behind the decision to give Duncan a "No confidence" vote.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lubbockonline.com/news/20180815/abbott-denies-rumors-of-involvement-in-texas-tech-chancellor-duncans-retirement|title=Abbott denies rumors of involvement in Texas Tech Chancellor Duncan's retirement|publisher=''Lubbock Avalanche-Journal''|date=August 15, 2018|author=Matt Dotray|accessdate=August 17, 2018}}</ref>
Reports by the ''Lubbock Avalanche-Journal'' contend that the regents in a 5-4 vote expressed "No confidence" in Duncan continuing as the chancellor. Speculation persists that his unfavorable evaluation came from fallout over his plan to build a second state [[Veterinarian|veterinary]] medical school in Amarillo. The existing veterinary school is at [[Texas A&M University]] in College Station, which opposes building a second such facility. Republican Governor [[Greg Abbott]], who appointed the regents, denied rumors that he was behind the decision to give Duncan a "No confidence" vote.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lubbockonline.com/news/20180815/abbott-denies-rumors-of-involvement-in-texas-tech-chancellor-duncans-retirement|title=Abbott denies rumors of involvement in Texas Tech Chancellor Duncan's retirement|publisher=''Lubbock Avalanche-Journal''|date=August 15, 2018|author=Matt Dotray|accessdate=August 17, 2018}}</ref>
L. Frederick "Rick" Francis, chairman of the Texas Tech regents, said that Duncan's departure is a result of disagreement among the regents over university finances:
<blockquote>
After three years of double-digit increases in the system administrative budget, beginning with the 2017/2018 budget cycle, the regents pushed back on the proposed increase in the system budget. Many, if not most members of the board, feel the system administrative budget is a tax on the component universities and is ultimately reflected in the rising cost of student tuition. The chancellor was asked to cut the system budget and to begin to find ways to limit the size and scope of services …<br>
During the 2018/2019 budget presentation, the chancellor initially proposed a 15 percent increase, which would have represented a 48 percent increase during his first five years. For context, during the previous chancellor’s first five years, the budget increased 7 percent. This highlighted a fundamental disagreement between the chancellor and the regents regarding the size, scope of services, and budget of the system sdministration. Regents voted to keep the existing budget with no increase from the previous year, to the objection of the chancellor.<br>
The result was a decision supported by the majority of the board to not renew the chancellor’s contract and instead set a course for new leadership at the end of the chancellor’s term. Coming to this conclusion was not easy for anyone involved, but there was a decision made by Chancellor Duncan that now would be the best time to retire, and for the system to move in a new direction.<ref>
http://www.lubbockonline.com/opinion/20180820/francis-differences-between-regents-chancellor-can-be-distilled-into-primary-contention|author=Rick Francis|publisher=''The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal''|date=August 20, 2018|accessdate=August 21, 2018}}</ref></blockquote>
Meanwhile state Repesentative Sarah Davis, a Moderate Republican from the Houston area, said there is insufficient information for her House General Investigating & Ethics Committee to conduct a probe into why Duncan resigned as chancellor. Davis said that she will continue to monitor developments in the matter and welcomes any additional information. State Representative [[Four Price]] of Amarillo, who backs Duncan' proposed veterinary school in his city, said that he would support an investigation into Duncan's retirement if any misconduct surfaces: "It may be a little premature to speculate this afternoon, or to say a full-blown committee investigation is warranted. I think we still don’t know."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lubbockonline.com/news/20180817/ethics-chair-says-current-facts-dont-warrant-investigation|title=Ethics chair says current facts don't warrant an investigation|publisher=''Lubbock Avalanche-Journal''|date=August 17, 2018|author=Matt Dotray|accessdate=August 18, 2018}}</ref>
Meanwhile state Repesentative Sarah Davis, a Moderate Republican from the Houston area, said there is insufficient information for her House General Investigating & Ethics Committee to conduct a probe into why Duncan resigned as chancellor. Davis said that she will continue to monitor developments in the matter and welcomes any additional information. State Representative [[Four Price]] of Amarillo, who backs Duncan' proposed veterinary school in his city, said that he would support an investigation into Duncan's retirement if any misconduct surfaces: "It may be a little premature to speculate this afternoon, or to say a full-blown committee investigation is warranted. I think we still don’t know."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lubbockonline.com/news/20180817/ethics-chair-says-current-facts-dont-warrant-investigation|title=Ethics chair says current facts don't warrant an investigation|publisher=''Lubbock Avalanche-Journal''|date=August 17, 2018|author=Matt Dotray|accessdate=August 18, 2018}}</ref>