How to Become a Nominee of New Party or Party Without Ballot Access in 2024
If you are a member of a new party or if your party's candidates for statewide office in the last general election received less than five percent of the vote, your party must qualify for ballot access. (Sections 181.0041, 181.005, Texas Election Code). Your party must register (PDF) with the Secretary of State's office by January 2, 2024, and needs the support of 81,030 qualified voters. (Sections 181.005,181.006, Texas Election Code).
If you hope to become the nominee of a new party for a particular office, you must file an application for nomination (PDF) with the county or state party chair, as appropriate (see chart). The application must be filed no later than 6:00 p.m. on December 11, 2023. (Section 181.033, Texas Election Code). The application for nomination must be accompanied by either a filing fee or a petition in lieu of filing fee (PDF), delivered to the Secretary of State (for a statewide or district office) or to the county judge (for a county or precinct office), in order for the applicant to qualify for nomination. The amount of the filing fee or the number of signatures required for the petition in lieu of a filing fee is the same amount that is required for a candidate seeking nomination by primary election under Sections 172.024 and 172.025. (NOTE: There are no extra requirements for judicial applicants.)
If you receive a majority of the votes cast at the county, district, or state convention, as appropriate, and you submitted your filing fee or petition in lieu of filing fee to county judge or Secretary of State, whichever is applicable, your name will appear on the general election ballot in November 2024 if your party has obtained ballot access.
Judicial Candidates- NEW LAW: Pursuant to HB 2384 (88th Leg., R.S.), effective September 1, 2023, candidates for certain judicial offices must provide additional information with their judicial application for nomination by convention (PDF). (Section 141.0311, Texas Election Code) See Running for a Judicial Office in 2024 for more information.
For more information on obtaining ballot access, please see our guide on establishing a political party in Texas.
| Nominee of New Party or Party without Ballot Access | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Office Sought in 2024 | File Application with Party Chair | Additional Information Required | File with County Judge or SOS (filing fee OR nominating petition) | |||
| State | County | Filing fee | %Signatures a | Number of Signatures b | ||
| United States Senator | x | - | - | $5,000 | - | 5000 |
| United States Representative | x | - | - | $3,125 | 2% | 500 |
| Railroad Commissioner | x | - | - | $3,750 | - | 5000 |
| Justice, Supreme Court | x | - | x | $3,750 | - | 5000 |
| Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals | x | - | x | $3,750 | - | 5000 |
| State Senator | x | - | - | $1,250 | 2% | 500 |
| State Representative | x | - | - | $750 | 2% | 500 |
| Member, State Board of Education | x | - | - | $300 | 2% | 500 |
| Chief Justice and Justice, Court of Appeals | x | - | x | $2,500 / $1,875 c |
2% | 500 |
| District Judge | x | - | x | $2,500 / $1,500 d |
2% | 500 |
| Criminal District Judge | x | - | x | $2,500 / $1,500 d |
2% | 500 |
| Family District Judge | x | - | x | $2,500 / $1,500 d |
2% | 500 |
| District Attorney | x | - | - | $1,250 | 2% | 500 |
| Criminal District Attorney | x | - | - | $1,250 | 2% | 500 |
| County Judge | - | x | - | $1,250 / $750 e |
2% | 500 |
| Judge, County Court-at-Law | - | x | x | $2,500 / $1,500 d |
2% | 500 |
| Judge, County Criminal Court | - | x | x | $2,500 / $1,500 d |
2% | 500 |
| Judge, County Probate Court | - | x | x | $2,500 / $1,500 d |
2% | 500 |
| County Attorney | - | x | - | $1,250 / $750 f |
2% | 500 |
| Sheriff | - | x | - | $1,250 / $750 e |
2% | 500 |
| Tax-Assessor-Collector | - | x | - | 1,250 / $750 e |
2% | 500 |
| County Commissioner | - | x | - | $1,250 / $750 e |
2% | 500 |
| Constable | - | x | - | $1,000 / $375 e |
2% | 500 |
| Justice of the Peace | - | x | - | $1,000 / $375 e |
2% | 500 |
| Source: Texas Election Code Section | §§ 181.032; 182.0041 | §141.0311 | §172.024 | §172.025 | ||
- Percentage of all votes for all gubernatorial candidates cast in the applicable territory in the 2022 general election. If number is less than 50, the required number of signatures is the lesser of (1) 50 or (2) 20% of all votes for all gubernatorial candidates cast in the applicable territory in the 2022 general election.
- The minimum number of signatures that must appear on a candidate’s petition for statewide office is 5000. The minimum number of signatures that must appear on a candidate’s petition for district, county or precinct office is the lesser of (1) 500 or (2) 2% of the total vote received in the district, county or precinct, as applicable, by all gubernatorial candidates in the 2022 general election. (Section 172.025, Texas Election Code).
- Pay higher fee in Courts of Appeals Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 14. (Section 172.024(7), (8), Texas Election Code).
- Pay higher fee in Bexar, Dallas, Harris and Tarrant Counties. (Sections 172.024(10), (12), Texas Election Code).
- Pay higher fee if county has at least 200,000 inhabitants according to 2020 Census.
- Pay higher fee if county attorney performs the duties of a district attorney. (Section 172.024(13), Texas Election Code).
