HB 3164
AN ACT relating to the withdrawal of a candidate in a runoff primary
89th Regular Session
Jan 14, 2025 - Jun 2, 2025 • Session ended
Awaiting Committee Assignment
Bill filed, pending referral to House committee
Committee
Not yet assigned
Fiscal Note
Not available
What This Bill Does
Modifies the rules for candidate withdrawals in runoff primary elections in Texas. It extends the deadline for candidate withdrawal from 3 to 5 days after the state canvass, and establishes new procedures for what happens if a top-performing candidate withdraws. If the candidate with the most votes withdraws before the deadline, the candidate who received the third-highest votes in the general primary will take their place; if a candidate withdraws after the deadline, the remaining candidate automatically becomes the nominee and no runoff election will be held.
Subject Areas
Bill Text
relating to the withdrawal of a candidate in a runoff primary BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 2.023(a), Election Code, is amended to (a) Except as provided by Subsections (b) and (c) or Section 172.059, the candidates in a runoff election are the candidates who receive the highest and second highest number of votes in the main election or who tie for the highest number of votes. SECTION 2. Section 172.059, Election Code, is amended by amending Subsections (a) and (c) and adding Subsection (d) to read (a) A candidate for nomination may not withdraw from the runoff primary election after 5 p.m. of the fifth [3rd] day after the last day on which the state canvass may be conducted for the election under Section 172.120(b) [172.120]. (c) If a runoff candidate who received the most votes cast withdraws from the election on or before 5 p.m. of the fifth day after the last day on which the state canvass may be conducted for the election, the candidate who received the third highest number of votes in the general primary election is entitled to a place on (d) If a runoff candidate withdraws after 5 p.m. of the fifth day after the last day on which the state canvass may be conducted for the election, the remaining candidate is the nominee and the runoff election for that office is not held. SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act apply to an election ordered on or after the effective date of this Act. An election ordered before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect when the election was ordered, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
Bill History
Bill filed: AN ACT relating to the withdrawal of a candidate in a runoff primary
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