I'm writing as your constituent because I believe voters should get to choose from the full range of candidates who want to represent them — not just whoever the two major parties put forward. Right now, Texas makes that nearly impossible for anyone running as an independent. An independent candidate for statewide office here has to collect 89,000 signatures in just 75 days — and they can only start gathering those signatures after the major-party primaries are already over. No other state in the country comes close to demanding that much in that little time. That's not a high bar — it's a locked door.
This isn't a partisan issue. It's about whether Texas voters get a real choice. A federal lawsuit filed this year by Mike Collier argues these rules are constitutionally indefensible, and frankly it's hard to disagree. When the signature window is so short and the number so high that qualified candidates simply can't make the ballot, we're not protecting elections — we're protecting incumbents. Texans deserve better than a system designed to limit their options before they ever set foot in a voting booth.
I'm asking you to support legislation that reforms Texas's ballot access requirements for independent candidates — bringing our signature thresholds and filing windows in line with what other states actually require. Give Texas voters the chance to choose from every qualified candidate who wants to serve them.
