Republican or Democratic Party Nominees
(Amended to reflect Federal District Court Order of 3/1/2012)
In order to become the Republican or Democratic Party nominee for a particular office, you must file an application for a place on the ballot with the county or state party chair, as appropriate (see chart). Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 172.022. The application for a place on the primary ballot must be accompanied by either a filing fee or a nominating petition signed by a certain number of qualified voters. Certain judicial candidates in Bexar, Dallas, Harris, Tarrant and Travis Counties and certain statewide judicial candidates must file additional petitions. If you receive a majority of the votes cast in the primary election or receive the most votes in a primary runoff election, if applicable, your name will appear on the general election ballot in November.
See Section 162.015 for more details about how primary voting or candidacy affects (or does not affect) candidacy.
| Public Office Sought in 2012 | File App. with Party Chair | Filing Fee | Nominating Petition in Lieu of Filing Fee | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | County | %Signatures c | Maximum Number of Signatures | ||
| United States Senator | x |
- |
$5,000 |
- |
5,000 |
| United States Representative | x a |
- |
$3,125 |
2% |
500 |
| Railroad Commissioner | x |
- |
$3,750 |
- |
5,000 |
| Justice, Supreme Court h | x |
- |
$3,750 |
- |
5,000 |
| Presiding Judge and Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals h | x |
- |
$3,750 |
- |
5,000 |
| State Senator | x a |
- |
$1,250 |
2% |
500 |
| State Representative | x a |
- |
$750 |
2% |
500 |
| Member, State Board of Education | x a |
- |
$300 |
2% |
500 |
| Chief Justice and Justice, Court of Appeals b | x a |
- |
$2,500/$1,875 e |
2% |
500 |
| District Judge b | x a |
- |
$2,500/$1,500 f |
2% |
500 |
| Criminal District Judge b | x a |
- |
$2,500/$1,500 f |
2% |
500 |
District Attorney |
x a |
- |
$1,250 |
2% |
500 |
| Judge, County Court-at-Law b | - |
x |
$2,500/$1,500 f |
2% |
500 |
| Judge, County Criminal Court. b | - |
x |
$2,500/$1,500 f |
2% |
500 |
| County Attorney | - |
x |
$1,250/$750 g |
2% |
500 |
Sheriff |
- |
x |
$1,250/$750 d |
2% |
500 |
Tax Assessor-Collector |
- |
x |
$1,250/$750 d |
2% |
500 |
County Commissioner |
- |
x |
$1,250/$750 d |
2% |
500 |
Constable |
- |
x |
$1,000/$375 d |
2% |
500 |
Justice of the Peace (Place 1)b |
- |
x |
$1,000/$375 d |
2% |
500 |
| Source: Texas Election Code Section |
§172.022 |
§172.024 |
§172.025 |
||
- File with county chair, if district is composed of only one county.
- For candidates running for Courts of Appeals in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 14th Districts and all candidates running for judicial offices in Bexar, Dallas, Harris, and Tarrant Counties, a 250-signature judicial petition is required in addition to the filing fee, or 750 signatures must be collected on the petition in lieu of filing fee. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 172.021(e) (NEW LAW, HB 2702, 2011 Legislative Session).
- Percentage of all votes for all gubernatorial candidates cast in the applicable territory in the 2010 general election. If number is less than 50, a larger percentage may be required. Consult Secretary of State for further information.
- Pay higher fee if county has at least 200,000 inhabitants according to 2010 Census.
- Pay higher fee in Courts of Appeals Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 14. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 172.024(8) (NEW LAW, HB 2702, 2011 Legislative Session).
- Pay higher fee in Bexar, Dallas, Harris, and Tarrant Counties. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 172.024(10), (12) (NEW LAW, HB 2702, 2011 Legislative Session).
- Pay higher fee if county attorney performs the duties of a district attorney.
- A candidate for the office of chief justice or justice, supreme court, or presiding judge or judge, court of criminal appeals, who chooses to pay the filing fee must also accompany the application and fee with a petition. The minimum number of signatures that must appear on the petition is 50 from each of the fourteen court of appeals districts, for a total requirement of 700 signatures. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 172.021(g).