Many bills are pending in the Texas legislature to make ballot access for minor parties and/or independent candidates worse, but only one of them appears likely to pass. That bill is SB 994, which pertains to filing fees for parties that nominate by convention. It has passed the Senate and will soon get a vote in the House. It would re-impose filing fees for candidates who seek the nomination of a convention party (i.e., Libertarian and Green Parties). The law already provides for such fees, but technical problems with the old law have prevented it from going into effect ever since it was passed a few years ago.
Restrictive bills not likely to pass include SB 1660, raising the vote test for a party to remain on the ballot to 10%; SB 1705, to require all qualified parties to nominate by primary; SB 2532, to double filing fees; SB 2271, also to double filing fees.
There is no practical reason to file for nomination by convention, and there was no such requirement until 1961. In 1960 John Tower was nominated for US Senator at the Republican state convention. He ran a credible campaign against LBJ who was simultaneously running for Vice President.
When LBJ resigned his Senate seat it triggered a special election. The temporary appointee was not well known and was not expected to run in the special election but he did. 5 other well-known Democrats entered the race along with dozens of other wannabes (71 in total). Tower continued his campaign and qualified for the runoff.
Tower won the runoff as many Democrat voters switched to him or stayed home. Tower was the first Republican senator in Texas since Reconstruction.
Meanwhile, the Legislature which was comprised of 150 Democrat representatives and 31 Democrat senators passed the law requiring convention candidates to profile. They said it was unfair to primary candidates that convention parties could nominate after the primary. There was only one primary party, the Democrats, and only one convention party, the Republicans, as the Progressives, Prohibitionists, and Socialists had fallen by the wayside.
The application for consideration was made to the organizers of the convention where the nomination would be made.
In effect it said, “dear Executive Committee, I understand you are organizing a county convention for the Libertarian Party to be held on May 12, and will be nominating for state representative district 88. I would kindly request that you consider me for that nomination.”
The Legislature also required independent candidates to file a declaration of intent to petition several months in the future.
HOW ROTTED WERE THE GERRYMANDERS IN TX IN 1836-1845 BEFORE BECOMING A STATE IN THE USA IN LATE 1845 ???
— LEADING TO THE MEX-AM WAR AND LATER PEACE TREATY.
ALSO IN 1960-1964 BEFORE SCOTUS 1964 GERRYMANDER CASES ??? —
LEADING TO TX BECOMING ELEPHANT CONTROLLED
– DUE TO JOHNSON’S DOMESTIC COMMIE STUFF AND RIGGED VIETNAM WAR [ IE THE FAKE TONKIN GULF L-I-E-S IN AUG 1964.
It was mainly due to the race mixing garbage. Worst idea ever.
I hope these bills die and never come back.
Ernst is right about race mixing