U.S. Representative Van Taylor (R-Plano) announced Wednesday that he was ending his campaign to seek reelection to Congress after admitting to infidelity.
The North Texas Republican announced his resignation in a letter to supporters where he apologized and admitted to having an affair with a Plano woman.
"I have let down so many other family members, friends, colleagues, supporters, and the people of the 3rd Congressional District whom I have had the great honor and privilege to represent. I am truly sorry, and I hope in time I can earn their forgiveness," Taylor said in his letter.
Information about the affair surfaced online over the weekend.
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Tuesday night, during the Texas Republican primary, Taylor was forced into a runoff with former Collin County Judge Keith Self after failing to grab more than 50% of the vote.
According to the Texas Secretary of State's Office, once Taylor officially withdraws from the race, Self will become the party's nominee and the runoff election will be effectively canceled.
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Taylor, a former Marine and Iraq war combat veteran, was considered one of the Texas delegation's most conservative members when he was elected in 2018. But he has been sharply criticized by the right-wing of the party for voting to certify the 2020 election results and for supporting a commission to investigate the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol.
Self is an Army veteran and graduate of the U.S. Military Academy. He has claimed Taylor drifted from his conservative roots in the GOP-dominant district.
“When Van and I talked, I think we need to respect his privacy and his distance and let him handle this with his family in his way. I just ask people to respect that," said Self in an interview with NBC5. "My response is that we need to be praying for Van and Anne and their girls. And beyond that, we’ll deal with the political side but this is something that transcends any campaign.”
Though Taylor said he's ending his bid for a third term he's expected to serve out his current term which ends in January 2023.
