The bill amends the Texas Election Code regarding the withdrawal of candidates in runoff primary elections. It 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. The bill introduces a new provision that allows a candidate who received the most votes to withdraw from the runoff election up until 5 p.m. on the fifth day after the state canvass deadline. If this occurs, the candidate with the third highest number of votes in the general primary election will take their place on the runoff ballot.

Additionally, if a candidate withdraws after the specified deadline, the remaining candidate automatically becomes the nominee, and the runoff election for that office will not take place. The bill clarifies that these changes 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)