Governor Greg Abbott Orders Emergency Special Runoff Election For Texas State Senate District 19
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME:
WHEREAS, the resignation of Senator Carlos Uresti, and its acceptance, has caused a vacancy to exist in Texas State Senate District No. 19, which consists of Brewster, Crockett, Dimmit, Edwards, Frio, Kinney, Maverick, Medina, Pecos, Real, Reeves, Terrell, Uvalde, Val Verde, and Zavala counties and parts of Atascosa and Bexar counties; and
WHEREAS, a special election to fill the vacancy in Senate District No. 19 was held on Tuesday, July 31, 2018, and the results of that special election have been officially declared; and
WHEREAS, no candidate in the special election received a majority of the votes cast, as required by Section 203.003 of the Texas Election Code; and
WHEREAS, Section 2.021 of the Texas Election Code requires that a runoff election be held if no candidate receives the votes necessary to be elected; and
WHEREAS, Section 2.025(d) of the Texas Election Code provides that the runoff election must be held not earlier than the 70th day or later than the 77th day after the date the final canvass of the main election is completed; and
WHEREAS, the indictment and ultimate conviction of Senator Uresti for fraud and money laundering has left Senate District No. 19 without effective representation in the Texas Senate for over a year; and
WHEREAS, because the 86th Legislative Session is approaching, there are ongoing interim legislative committee hearings, and compliance with Section 2.025(d) of the Texas Election Code would continue to leave Senate District No. 19 without representation in the Texas Senate, it is imperative to fill this vacancy to ensure that Senate District No. 19 is fully represented as soon as possible; and
WHEREAS, Section 41.0011 of the Texas Election Code provides that the Governor may order an emergency election before the appropriate statutory date; and
WHEREAS, Section 3.003(a)(3) of the Texas Election Code requires the special runoff election to be ordered by proclamation of the Governor;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GREG ABBOTT, Governor of Texas, do hereby order an emergency special runoff election to be held in Senate District No. 19 on Tuesday, September 18, 2018, for the purpose of electing a state senator for Senate District No. 19 to serve out the unexpired term of Senator Carlos Uresti.
Early voting by personal appearance shall begin on Monday, September 10, 2018, and shall end on Friday, September 14, 2018, in accordance with Subsections 85.001(b) and (c) of the Texas Election Code.
A copy of this order shall be mailed immediately to the County Judges of all counties contained within Senate District No. 19, and all appropriate writs shall be issued and all proper proceedings shall be followed to the end that said special runoff election may be held to fill the vacancy in Senate District No. 19 and its result proclaimed in accordance with law.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereto signed my name and have officially caused the Seal of State to be affixed at my office in the City of Austin, Texas, this the 11th day of August, 2018.
GREG ABBOTT
Governor