S.B. No. 1033 amends the Texas Election Code regarding the withdrawal of candidates in runoff primary elections. The bill specifies that candidates in a runoff election are those who receive the highest and second highest number of votes in the main election or who tie for the highest number of votes. It introduces a new provision that allows a candidate to withdraw from the runoff primary election until 5 p.m. of the fifth day after the last day on which the state canvass may be conducted. If a candidate withdraws by this deadline, the candidate who received the third highest number of votes in the general primary election will be entitled to a place on the runoff ballot.

Additionally, the bill states that if a runoff candidate withdraws after the specified deadline, the remaining candidate will automatically become the nominee, and the runoff election for that office will not take place. The changes made by this Act will apply to elections ordered on or after its effective date of September 1, 2025, while elections ordered before this date will continue to be governed by the previous law.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Election Code 2.023, Election Code 172.059 (Election Code 172, Election Code 2)
Senate Committee Report: Election Code 2.023, Election Code 172.059 (Election Code 172, Election Code 2)
Engrossed: Election Code 2.023, Election Code 172.059 (Election Code 172, Election Code 2)