Coronavirus: Texas Postpones Runoff Primary Election Until July

AUSTIN, TX — Gov. Greg Abbott on Friday issued a proclamation postponing the runoff primary election until July 14 — a nearly 2-month delay after the election period was originally scheduled on May 26 — as a social distancing tactic to avert potential new coronavirus spread.

The new date is the same one for the special election for Texas State Senate District 14.

The governor's office explained the postponement is in alignment with an state order issued on Thursday banning assemblies of 10 or more people to slow the spread of respiratory ailment known as COVID-19.

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"Holding the runoff in May would cause the congregation of large gatherings of people in confined spaces and cause numerous election workers to come into close proximity with others," the statement from the governor's office read. "This would threaten the health and safety of many Texans."

View the proclamation

Early voting for the postponed runoff primary election will begin Monday, July 6, 2020.

Democrat MJ Hegar — who was narrowly defeated by a mere 3 percent by incumbent Republican John Carter during her 2017 congressional bid and now hopes to unseat U.S. Sen. John Cornyn — endorsed the governor's postponement.

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"While our number one priority is protecting the health and safety of each and every Texan, we also need to continue holding safe and secure elections," Hegar said in a prepared statement. "I am pleased that the governor is following the advice of public health officials in moving the runoff election back, but we must smartly use this time to ensure a smooth and safe election in both the runoff and general election in November."

To further promote the tactics of social distancing an an age of coronavirus, Hegar urged voters to avail themselves of other forms of voting not requiring a visit to a polling station: "I am calling on the governor and state officials to work with nonpartisan groups to expand access to vote by mail, extend early vote, and enact no-excuse absentee voting. No Texan should have to choose between exercising their constitutional right to vote or putting public health in danger.”

The postponement date is the same ordered by the governor for the special election for the Texas State Senate District 14 seat. The office is up for grabs after Sen. Kirk Watson announced he would step down to accept a job as inaugural dean of the University of Houston Hobby School for Public Affairs.