IMPORTANT ELECTION DATES
If you plan to run for office in 2026, here are some important dates for you to know:
March 3, 2026 Primary Election
Sep 9, 2025 Precinct Chair (only) filing begins
Nov 8, 2025 First Day for all other candidates to file
Dec 8, 2025 Last Day for all candidates to file
Check our Public Notices page for times and locations to accept Candidate Applications.
More Important Date voting information:
https://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter/important-election-dates.shtml
TEXAS ETHICS COMMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Before you begin soliciting and collecting campaign donations or even announce your candidacy, you must file a Campaign Treasurer Appointment (CTA) form with the proper authority. There are two categories: Judicial and Non-Judicial Candidates and Officeholders
- Non-Judicial CTA Form: https://www.ethics.state.tx.us/data/forms/coh/cta.pdf
- Judicial CTA Form: https://www.ethics.state.tx.us/data/forms/coh/jcta.pdf
Who you file with depends on your district:
This is the Campaign Finance Guide for Candidates who must file electronically with the Texas Ethics Commission (revised 2025):
Campaign Finance Guide for Candidates and Officeholders Who File with the TEC
- Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Comptroller, Railroad Commissioner, Land Commissioner, Agriculture Commissioner, State Party Chair, County Chair of certain political parties;
- Texas Senate, Texas House of Representatives; Speaker of the House;
- Multi-county District Attorney;
- State Board of Education;
- Supreme Court Justice, Court of Appeals Justice, Court of Criminal Appeals Judge, and District Judges;
- Offices of a political subdivision other than a county located in more than one county and with a governing body that has not been formed (Example: A newly created utility district with boundaries crossing a county line);
- Specific-purpose political committees supporting or opposing a candidate or officeholder who files with the Commission, or a measure that is to be submitted to voters of the entire state;
- Specific-purpose political committees for supporting or opposing school bond measures file treasurer appointment locally and campaign finance reports with the Commission;
- General-purpose political committees, including a county executive committee of a political party;
- Individuals and Entities making direct campaign expenditures in excess of $100;
- Legislative Caucuses;
- Retired Officeholders retaining contributions or assets
This is the Campaign Finance Guide for Candidates who must file locally with the Caldwell County Election Administrator (pdf revised 2025):
Campaign Finance Guide for Candidates and Officeholders Who File with Local Filing Authorities
- county offices;
- precinct offices;
- single-county district offices;
- city offices; and
- offices of other political subdivisions such as school districts
This is the Campaign Finance Guide for Judicial Candidates and Officeholders (pdf revised 2025): Campaign Finance For Judicial Candidates and Officehodlers
- chief justice or justice of the Supreme Court;
- presiding judge or judge of the Court of Criminal Appeals;
- chief justice or justice of a court of appeals;
- district judge;
- judge of a statutory county court; and
- judge of a statutory probate court.
Congressional, U.S. Senate, and Presidential candidates are governed by the Federal Election Commission and have separate requirements. www.fec.gov
Please mark your calendar with your Filing Schedule for Reports and Personal Financial Statements, if applicable: https://www.ethics.state.tx.us/filinginfo/reportdue/
FAQs for Candidates: https://www.ethics.state.tx.us/resources/FAQs/FAQ_COH_Legal.php
Political Fundraising Guide: https://www.ethics.state.tx.us/data/resources/guides/Gpolfund.pdf
Political Advertising Guide: https://www.ethics.state.tx.us/resources/advertising/
Political Advertising FAQs: https://www.ethics.state.tx.us/resources/advertising/political_advertising_reqts.php
Rules for posting Campaign Signs: https://www.txdot.gov/business/right-of-way/campaign-signs.html
Title 15 of the Election Code(revised 2023): Title 15 Election Code
Texas Ethics Commission Rules (pdf revised 2025): Texas Ethics Commission Rules, effective July 3, 2025
The Texas Ethics Commission has FREE attorneys on-call to answer your questions: 512-463-5800
TEXAS SECRETARY OF STATE
Candidate’s Guide: Candidate’s Guide to Nomination and General Election for 2026
Qualifications for Office: Qualifications for All Public Offices
Poll Watcher’s Guide: https://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/forms/pollwatchers-guide.pdf
List of Candidates who have filed (and status) for office:
https://candidate.texas-election.com/Elections/getQualifiedCandidatesInfo.do
Texas Secretary of State Contact Information: https://www.sos.texas.gov/elections/contact.shtml
CALDWELL COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY
If your district or constituency is wholly within Caldwell County, you will file for a place on the 2026 Republican Primary Ballot with CCRP County Chairman Luz Riley. Check the Public Notices page for dates, times, and places where Chairman Riley will be available to accept your application.
(If you have a multi-county district you will file with the Republican Party of Texas. www.texasgop.org)
Links to the following application forms and fee information were posted prior to September 1, 2025, when new forms may become required due to changes by the 89th Legislature.
Application for Public Office (2-4 revised 8/2025): Application for Place on Primary Ballot
Application for Party Office (County Chairman or Precinct Chairman, 2-3 revised 8/2025):
Application for a Place on the General Primary Ballot for a Precinct or County Chair
Filing Fee Schedule: Filing in the 2026 Republican or Democratic Primary Election
You may opt to file a Petition in Lieu of a Filing Fee (2-7 revised 8/2025): PETITION IN LIEU OF A FILING FEE and/or PETITION FOR JUDICIAL OFFICE FOR A PRIMARY ELECTION (PETICIÓN PRESENTADA EN SUSTITUCIÓN DEL PAGO DE INSCRIPCIÓN y/o PETICIÓN PARA UN CARGO OFICIAL JUDICIAL PARA UNA ELECCIÓN PRIMARIA)