Texas is big on fundraising freedom but strict on deadlines. There are no general contribution limits for most state races, but the Texas Ethics Commission (TEC) enforces filing deadlines, no extensions are allowed for pre-election reports.
Candidate Filing Periods
Before you worry about campaign finance reports, you need to actually file to run:
- Statewide/legislative races: Filing opened noon December 1, 2025 and closed noon December 19, 2025
- Municipal races (even-year): Filing opens noon July 6, 2026 and closes noon July 17, 2026
No Contribution Limits (Mostly)
Texas does not impose general contribution limits for state legislative or executive races. Individuals, PACs, and other donors can give unlimited amounts. But there are exceptions:
- Judicial candidates: Subject to limits under the Judicial Campaign Fairness Act (amounts vary by district population)
- Corporate contributions to candidates: Prohibited
- Union contributions to candidates: Prohibited
- Cash contributions: Limited to $100 per contributor per reporting period
- Appoint Your Treasurer First
Before you accept a single contribution or spend a dollar, file a Campaign Treasurer Appointment (Form CTA) with the appropriate authority. No CTA on file = no legal fundraising.
2026 Filing Deadlines
- January Semiannual (Jul–Dec 2025): January 15, 2026
- 30-Day Pre-Primary: February 2, 2026
- 8-Day Pre-Primary: February 23, 2026
- July Semiannual (Jan–Jun 2026): July 15, 2026
- 30-Day Pre-General: Early October 2026
- 8-Day Pre-General: Late October 2026
- No extensions. No exceptions. The TEC does not grant deadline extensions for pre-election reports under any circumstances. Plan accordingly.
State vs. Local Filing
- State candidates: File with the Texas Ethics Commission
- County/local candidates: File with the county clerk or elections administrator
The TEC has a helpful “When is My Report Due?” tool and separate guides for state filers and local filers.
Key Contacts
Contact the Texas Ethics Commission if you have any questions about regulations. They can help give guidance and you need to file a Treasurer Appointment before you can fundraise.
Texas Ethics Commission: (512) 463-5800
Address: 201 E. 14th Street, 10th Floor, Austin, TX 78701
Website: ethics.state.tx.us
Don’t Risk a Missed Deadline
With no extensions available, a missed pre-election deadline means automatic penalties.
Campaign Deputy can create dedicated import files to quickly import your data into TEC. This helps t to comply with your reporting requirements and reduce the time you need to manage your transaction.
Schedule a demo to see NC campaign finance in Campaign Deputy.
