Texas candidate filing & campaign-finance deadlines
Official 2026 report due dates for Texas state candidates file with Texas Ethics Commission.
2 more deadlines follow in this cycle.
Electbase emails you before every deadline — 14, 7, and 2 days out — and stays current as the official schedule changes.
Get deadline remindersIncluded in every Electbase plan · See pricingThis page also covers Texas candidate-filing (ballot access) deadlines for 2027–2028 — the process of becoming a qualified candidate, distinct from the campaign-finance reporting below. Here's how to run for office in Texas: what to file, when, and with whom.
8 report deadlines for the 2026 cycle.
These are the campaign-finance report due dates a Texas state candidate files with Texas Ethics Commission for the 2026 election cycle, stored verbatim from the official schedule. The 2026 primary is Mar 3, 2026.
| Due | Type | Report | Covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual/Year-end | TX January Semiannual Report Semiannual report due January 15, covering July 1 – December 31, 2025. Required of all candidates and officeholders. |
Jul 1, 2025 – Dec 31, 2025 | |
| Pre-election | TX 30-Day Pre-Primary Report Due the 30th day before the March 3 primary — February 1 is a Sunday, so the deadline moves to Monday, February 2. Opposed primary candidates not on the modified schedule. |
Jan 1, 2026 – Jan 22, 2026 | |
| Pre-election | TX 8-Day Pre-Primary Report Due the 8th day before the March 3 primary. Must be received by the due date. |
Jan 23, 2026 – Feb 21, 2026 | |
| Pre-election | TX Pre-Runoff Report (only if in the May 26 primary runoff) CONDITIONAL: due the 8th day before the May 26 primary runoff, only for candidates in the runoff. |
Feb 22, 2026 – May 16, 2026 | |
| Annual/Year-end | TX July Semiannual Report Semiannual report due July 15, covering January 1 – June 30, 2026. |
Jan 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026 | |
| Pre-election | TX 30-Day Pre-General Report Due the 30th day before the November 3 general — October 4 is a Sunday, so the deadline moves to Monday, October 5. Opposed general-election candidates not on the modified schedule. |
Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 24, 2026 | |
| Pre-election | TX 8-Day Pre-General Report Due the 8th day before the November 3 general. Must be received by the due date. |
Sep 25, 2026 – Oct 24, 2026 | |
| Annual/Year-end | TX January Semiannual Report (cycle close-out) Semiannual report due January 15, 2027, covering July 1 – December 31, 2026. |
Jul 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026 |
Shaded rows are deadlines that have already passed.
Good to know
Schedule for an OPPOSED candidate/officeholder filing Form C/OH who is NOT on the modified reporting schedule (candidates who neither raise nor spend above the modified-reporting threshold are exempt from the pre-election reports). Judicial candidates file Form JC/OH. The runoff report applies only to candidates in the May 26 primary runoff. Large late contributions can trigger daily (telegram) reports. Reports must be RECEIVED, not merely postmarked, by the due date. Personal Financial Statements (Form PFS, due 2026-02-12 / 2026-04-30) are a separate disclosure and are not listed here.
Texas candidate-filing deadlines — 2027–2028.
Deadlines to become a qualified candidate for office in Texas — declarations of candidacy, nominating petitions, and related ballot-access filing requirements — compiled from Texas Secretary of State. Distinct from the campaign-finance report deadlines above.
2027
Municipal
Mayor and City Council (general-law and home-rule)
Candidacy method: Nonpartisan · Deadline type: Nonpartisan filing
Files with: City Secretary
Signatures: Varies by municipal charter; typically none required but some require 20-50 signatures of registered voters
Filing as a Candidate in a Local General Election · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Not yet independently verified
The filing deadline for Mayor and City Council (general-law and home-rule) in Statewide (general-law municipalities) for the 2027 Texas Municipal Elections is not yet a confirmed date (awaiting local confirmation); check with City Secretary. Source: Texas Secretary of State.
2028
Federal
U.S. House of Representatives
Filing window: –
Candidacy method: Independent · Deadline type: Independent candidate filing
Petition deadline: Aug 21, 2028 · Withdrawal deadline: Sep 4, 2028
Files with: Texas Secretary of State
Signatures: Nominating petition with signatures of registered voters who did not participate in either party's primary election. For U.S. House, threshold is 5% of votes cast for governor in the district in 2022, or 500 signatures minimum (whichever is greater).
Running as an Independent Candidate in 2026 · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Last verified Jul 13, 2026
Filing for U.S. House of Representatives in Statewide for the 2028 Texas General Election (Nov 7, 2028) closes Aug 21, 2028 at 5:00 PM America/Chicago. Opens May 9, 2028. This date is calculated from statute and is not an official calendar date. Source: Texas Secretary of State.
U.S. House of Representatives
Filing window: –
Candidacy method: Write In · Deadline type: Write-in filing
Write-in deadline: Aug 21, 2028 · Withdrawal deadline: Sep 4, 2028
Files with: Texas Secretary of State
Fee: Varies by office; for U.S. House approximately $1,000-2,000 (specific amount varies by cycle) · Signatures: Alternatively, petition in lieu of filing fee with signatures equal to 2% of votes cast for the office in the last election, or 500 signatures, whichever is less
Procedures for Write-In Candidates in 2026 · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Not yet independently verified
Filing for U.S. House of Representatives in Statewide for the 2028 Texas General Election (Nov 7, 2028) closes Aug 21, 2028 at 5:00 PM America/Chicago. Opens Jul 22, 2028. Source: Texas Secretary of State.
U.S. President
Filing window: –
Candidacy method: Independent · Deadline type: Independent candidate filing
Petition deadline: May 8, 2028 · Withdrawal deadline: May 22, 2028
Files with: Texas Secretary of State
Signatures: Nominating petition with signatures of registered voters who did not participate in either party's 2028 primary. For president: 113,887 signatures in 2026 (adjusted for 2028).
Running for President in Texas (in 2028) · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Not yet independently verified
Filing for U.S. President in Statewide for the 2028 Texas General Election (Nov 7, 2028) closes May 8, 2028 at 5:00 PM America/Chicago. Opens Mar 8, 2028. Source: Texas Secretary of State.
U.S. President
Filing window: –
Candidacy method: Write In · Deadline type: Write-in filing
Write-in deadline: Aug 21, 2028 · Withdrawal deadline: Sep 4, 2028
Files with: Texas Secretary of State
Fee: Varies; typically $1,000-2,000 for presidential · Signatures: Alternatively, petition in lieu of filing fee with signatures of 2% of votes cast for president in 2024, or 500 signatures, whichever is less
Running for President in Texas (in 2028) · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Not yet independently verified
Filing for U.S. President in Statewide for the 2028 Texas General Election (Nov 7, 2028) closes Aug 21, 2028 at 5:00 PM America/Chicago. Opens Jul 22, 2028. Source: Texas Secretary of State.
State Legislative
Texas State House and State Senate
Filing window: –
Candidacy method: Independent · Deadline type: Independent candidate filing
Petition deadline: Aug 21, 2028 · Withdrawal deadline: Sep 4, 2028
Files with: County clerk or elections administrator
Signatures: Nominating petition: for state legislative office, typically 5% of votes cast for the office in the district in the last election, or 500 signatures, whichever is greater
Running as an Independent Candidate in 2026 · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Last verified Jul 13, 2026
Filing for Texas State House and State Senate in Statewide for the 2028 Texas General Election (Nov 7, 2028) closes Aug 21, 2028 at 5:00 PM America/Chicago. Opens May 9, 2028. This date is calculated from statute and is not an official calendar date. Source: Texas Secretary of State.
Texas State House and State Senate
Filing window: –
Candidacy method: Write In · Deadline type: Write-in filing
Write-in deadline: Aug 21, 2028 · Withdrawal deadline: Sep 4, 2028
Files with: County clerk or elections administrator
Fee: Varies by office; State House approximately $750-1,000, State Senate approximately $1,000-1,500 · Signatures: Alternatively, petition in lieu of filing fee with signatures equal to 2% of votes cast for the office, or 250 signatures (state legislative), whichever is less
Procedures for Write-In Candidates in 2026 · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Not yet independently verified
Filing for Texas State House and State Senate in Statewide for the 2028 Texas General Election (Nov 7, 2028) closes Aug 21, 2028 at 5:00 PM America/Chicago. Opens Jul 22, 2028. Source: Texas Secretary of State.
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Electbase compiles these dates from official state sources as a workflow aid. It is not legal advice. Confirm every deadline with your filing authority before you rely on it.
Last updated August 27, 2026