Running For President in Texas (in 2024)

Republican or Democratic Party Primary Candidates

The presidential primary will be held in Texas on March 5, 2024. Both the Republican Party and Democratic Party will hold primaries. Candidates who wish to run either as a Republican or Democratic candidate will file applications, accompanied by a filing fee or petition, with the State Chair of each party. All candidate forms and procedures to run for President must follow party rule. The party will also establish the filing deadline. The filing deadline may not be any later than 6:00 p.m. on December 11, 2023. [Tex. Elec. Code Secs. 172.023, 191.002(b)]. The party’s state chair must deliver: (1) written certification of the names of the party’s nominees for president and vice-president and (2) the names and residence addresses of the 40 presidential elector candidates nominated by the party to the Secretary of State no later than 5 p.m. of the 71st day before presidential election day OR 5 p.m. of the first business day after the date of final adjournment of the party's national presidential nominating convention (whichever is later). [Tex. Elec. Code Sec. 192.031].

For more information about running as a Republican Party or Democratic Party candidate, please contact their party headquarters at:

Republican Party of Texas: Matt Rinaldi, Chair; 807 Brazos St., Suite 701; Austin, TX 78701; (512) 477-9821; (512) 480-0709 (fax)

Democratic Party of Texas: Gilberto Hinojosa, Chair; 314 E. Highland Mall Blvd, Suite 508; Austin, TX 78752; (512) 478-9800; (512) 480-2500 (fax)

Convention Party Candidates

Only parties that have qualified to have their political party on the ballot are allowed to have their nominees for President/Vice-President on the ballot. Section 181.003 requires a political party to make nominations for the general election by convention if the party is not required or authorized to nominate by primary election. Convention Parties will nominate candidates for President according to party rule. All candidate forms and procedures to run for President must follow party rule. The party’s state chair must deliver: (1) written certification of the names of the party’s nominees for president and vice-president and (2) the names and residence addresses of the 40 presidential elector candidates nominated by the party to the Secretary of State no later than 5 p.m. of the 71st day before presidential election day OR 5 p.m. of the first business day after the date of final adjournment of the party's national presidential nominating convention (whichever is later). [Tex. Elec. Code Sec. 192.031].

For more information about running as a Libertarian Party or Green Party candidate, please contact their party headquarters at:

Libertarian Party of Texas: Whitney Bilyeu, Chair; P.O. Box 1766; Austin, TX 78767; (800) 422-1776

Green Party of Texas: Aly Schmidt, Co-Chair; Matt Bauman, Co-Chair; P.O. Box 794741; Dallas, Texas 75379; (512) 551-0310

Independent Candidates

Independent candidates for President file an application with the Secretary of State. The application must be submitted with a petition, and both documents must be filed no later than May 13, 2024. The petition can be circulated beginning after March 5, 2024. For 2024, the petition must contain 113,151 signatures of registered voters who did not vote in the presidential primary of either party. The application must include the information about, and signed consent from, the candidate’s vice-presidential running mate. In addition to the petition and application, an independent candidate for President must provide signed, written statements of consent to be a presidential elector candidate from 40 presidential elector candidates (the number of presidential electors that federal law allocates to Texas). Forms are linked below and may be obtained from the Secretary of State’s office. [Tex. Elec. Code Sec. 192.032].

NEW LAW: HB 87 (88th Leg., R.S.) creates a process for substituting an alternate elector named by an independent candidate if there is a vacancy in the position of elector. Therefore, while each independent candidate is only required to submit signed, written statements of consent from 40 presidential elector candidates, an independent candidate may submit additional signed, written statements from individuals willing to serve as an alternate elector. [Tex. Elec. Code Sec. 192.103].

Independent Candidate's Application for President (PDF) | Spanish (PDF)

Independent Candidate's Petition for President (PDF)

Independent Candidate’s Consent of Presidential Elector Candidate (PDF)

Write-In Candidates

Write-in candidates for President file a declaration of write-in candidacy with the Secretary of State. The declaration may not be filed earlier than Saturday, July 20, 2024, or later than 5:00 p.m. of Monday, August 19, 2024. The declaration must include the information about, and signed consent from, the candidate’s vice-presidential running mate. In addition to the declaration, a write-in candidate for President must provide signed, written statements of consent to be a presidential elector candidate from 40 presidential elector candidates (the number of presidential electors that federal law allocates to Texas). Forms are linked below and may be obtained from the Secretary of State’s office. [Tex. Elec. Code Sec. 146.025].

NEW LAW: HB 87 (88th Leg., R.S.) creates a process for substituting an alternate elector named by a write-in candidate if there is a vacancy in the position of elector. Therefore, while each write-in candidate is only required to submit signed, written statements of consent from 40 presidential elector candidates, a write-in candidate may submit additional signed, written statements from individuals willing to serve as an alternate elector. [Sec. 192.103].

Declaration of Write in Candidacy for President (PDF) | Spanish (PDF)

Consent of Presidential Elector Candidate for Write-In Candidate (PDF)

For additional information, please call toll-free at (800) 252-VOTE(8683).