I believe TX law requires that he face the voters for the 2-year window this November.
It all depends upon timing as to when the special election to fill the remainder of the term would occur. Nov. 2 would be the most likely next ‘uniform election date’ assuming KBH would resign in the not to distant future. There is a ‘uniform election’ date on May 8 but that may not leave time for timeline dates as specified by Code. However the gov. does have the option to declare an emergency ‘special special election’ to fill the seat. I guess the real catalyst is the resignation date if and when it occurs.
One interesting thing about a special election if it occurs is that it will be a ‘jungle’ type election in that all candidates will run on the same ballot and the top two vote getters have a runoff if no one gets a majority the first time. No primaries invovled so if no majority winner the first time then it could be a dem/dem - rep/rep - or a dem/rep faceoff.
The jungle special election is unique, and helped KBH get elected to her Senate seat in 1993, after Clinton appointed Senator Bentsen to his Cabinet.
Ann Richards appointed Bob Krueger to be the interim senator, and a ton of people ran against him in the special election. Reps. Joe Barton and Jack Fields split the conservative vote. KBH and Bob Krueger got into the runoff, where Kay creamed him. It could be argued that KBH could not have gotten out of a standard Republican primary and runoff.
Once she became an incumbent Senator, no Republican of any stature opposed her.