On November 1, the Texas Democratic Party filed a lawsuit against the Texas law on order of candidates on the ballot. Texas Democratic Party v Hughs, w.d., 1:19cv-1071. It is assigned to U.S. District Court Judge Lee Yeakel, a Bush Jr. appointee. Here is the Complaint.

The Texas law says that the top names on the general election ballot are the nominees of the party that won the last gubernatorial election. Thus Republicans have been listed first for over 24 years.

The Complaint has the same footnote as in the Arizona Democratic Party lawsuit on the same issue. It says that if the party wins the lawsuit, the relief should not apply to minor parties or independent candidates, and quotes Timmons v Twin Cities Area New Party.

A hearing was held in Miller v Hughs, w.d., 1:19cv-700, on October 31. This is the lawsuit over various Texas ballot access laws that injure minor parties and independent candidates. Although the lawsuit will be lengthy and covers many issues, there is likely to be a decision soon on whether to enjoin the new filing fees for convention parties. The 2019 legislature passed a bill that, for the first time, requires candidates of parties that nominate by convention to pay the same filing fees that primary candidates pay. That issue needs to be settled fast, because the fees or petitions in lieu of the fee are due very soon.

On November 1, the Democratic National Committee and the state Democratic Parties of Georgia, Arizona, and Texas filed lawsuits against the law that determines order of candidates on the ballot. In all three states, the Republican nominee is listed first for 2020 because Republicans won the Governorship in the last election. See this story. Thanks to Rick Hasen for the link.

The Democratic Party is currently suing Florida over the same issue, and a decision could be released by a U.S. District Court at any time.