How to Run for Office in Texas
Getting on the Ballot
Texas elections are overseen by the Secretary of State, but here's the arrangement to know: candidates in a party primary file with their political party, not with a government office. For a district or county office contained within one county, you file your application with the county party chair; for statewide and multi-county offices, with the state party chair. Filing requires an application plus either a filing fee or a petition in lieu of the fee.
Independent candidates file a declaration of intent and then gather petition signatures from voters who didn't participate in either party's primary. Candidates for nonpartisan local offices - most city councils and school boards - file with the city secretary or the school district, not with a party.
Texas primaries require a majority to win the nomination, so a crowded primary often means a runoff - budget your campaign timeline and money for that possibility.
Where Local Candidates File
City and school board candidates file their candidacy applications with the city secretary or school district secretary. That same official is also your campaign finance filing authority: the Texas Ethics Commission sets the rules statewide, but local candidates file their treasurer appointments and finance reports with the clerk or secretary of the political subdivision, while county candidates file with the county elections administrator or county clerk, and state candidates file with the Ethics Commission itself.
Worth Knowing
- Before you raise or spend a single dollar - including your own money - you must file a Form CTA (Appointment of Campaign Treasurer) with the appropriate filing authority. This applies to every office in Texas and is the most commonly missed first step.
- Campaign finance is regulated by the Texas Ethics Commission, a separate agency from the Secretary of State. Its plain-language campaign finance guides, published per office type, are excellent.
- If no candidate wins a majority in the primary, the top two go to a runoff - common in open-seat races.
Official Texas Resources
Filing deadlines, fees, and signature requirements change from cycle to cycle. Always confirm current details with the official sources below.
This page was last reviewed on August 4, 2026. Process details above are believed current as of that date; deadlines and fees should always be verified with your election office.