Texas Secretary of State’s spokesman Sam Taylor wrote in an email to Roll Call in March that the two uniform election dates are May 5, the municipal election date, and Nov. 5, the general election. Since 36 days before May 5 is March 30, the special election would have to be ordered no later than March 30 for the election to occur on May 5.

Because this vacancy is occurring after March 30, the next date at which the seat could be filled is Nov. 6. In that case the winner would serve out the remaining two months of Farenthold’s term.

Taylor clarified in a brief phone interview on Friday that the governor does have the option to declare an emergency special election that would not have to take place on May 5 or Nov. 6.

If the governor chooses to do so, he would have to submit a statement explaining the nature of the emergency. That emergency election would occur between 36 and 50 days after the election is ordered. There would not be a primary for a special election.

The race for Farenthold’s seat is already headed to a primary runoff. The 27th District is expected to remain in GOP hands. President Donald Trump carried the district by 23 points in 2016 and Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales rates the race Solid Republican.