With U.S. Sen. John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton headed to a runoff in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate, questions have emerged about whether either candidate could still withdraw from the race.
The issue gained renewed attention after President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social last week that he plans to make an endorsement in the race and suggested the candidate he does not back should exit the contest.
“The Republican Primary Race for the United States Senate in the Great State of Texas… cannot, for the good of the Party, and our Country, itself, be allowed to go on any longer,” Trump wrote. “I will be making my Endorsement soon, and will be asking the candidate that I don’t Endorse to immediately DROP OUT OF THE RACE!”
Texas election law allows runoff candidates to withdraw—but only within a limited window.
Under the Texas Election Code, candidates in a runoff primary may withdraw from the election until 5 p.m. on the third day after the state canvass is completed.
The Republican Party of Texas is scheduled to conduct its official canvass of the March 3 Primary Election results on Saturday, March 14.
That means any candidate wishing to withdraw from the runoff would have until 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 17 to file the request.
The withdrawal must be submitted to the state party chair for statewide races, such as the U.S. Senate.
State law also outlines what happens if a runoff candidate drops out.
“If a runoff candidate withdraws, the remaining candidate is the nominee and the runoff election for that office is not held,” the Texas Election Code states.
In that scenario, the remaining candidate would automatically become the Republican nominee for the November General Election.
Neither Cornyn nor Paxton has indicated any plans to withdraw from the race, though Paxton has said he would consider leaving the race if the Senate lifted the filibuster to pass the SAVE America Act, an omnibus bill that would require voter identification, curtail mail-in voting, and prohibit gender mutilation procedures on children.
Trump has said in recent days that he will not sign any other bill until it is passed. He has, so far, not announced his endorsement of either Cornyn or Paxton.
Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales—who was forced into a runoff by challenger Brandon Herrera—announced late last week he would be dropping out of the race following revelations of an affair with a late staffer.
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