Mineral Wells Area News

Reporting By Amy Meyer / Mineral Wells Area News

AUSTIN — Former Texas House District 60 Rep. Glenn Rogers is among a coalition of former elected officials, business leaders, faith leaders and voters who have joined a federal lawsuit challenging Texas election laws governing ballot access for independent candidates.

The lawsuit was filed June 10 in federal district court in Austin by former lieutenant governor nominee Mike Collier and a group of co-plaintiffs from across the political spectrum. The suit argues that Texas’ ballot access requirements for independent candidates are unconstitutional and unfairly favor Republican and Democratic nominees.

According to the filing, Texas requires independent statewide candidates to collect tens of thousands of petition signatures within a limited timeframe to qualify for the general election ballot. Plaintiffs contend the requirements place significant burdens on independent candidates and restrict voter choice.

The lawsuit specifically challenges provisions of Texas election law that prevent voters who participate in party primaries from signing petitions for independent candidates and require independent candidates to gather a large number of signatures after primary elections conclude.

Collier, who is running for lieutenant governor as an independent candidate, argues the state’s requirements make it nearly impossible for independent candidates to qualify for the ballot without substantial financial resources.

Among the plaintiffs is Rogers, a Palo Pinto County rancher who represented House District 60 from 2021 to 2025. Rogers, a Republican during his time in the Legislature, said in a statement included with the lawsuit that Texas’ ballot access laws protect the state’s two major political parties from competition.

“For years, Texas politicians have talked about freedom, competition, and giving people a voice, but our ballot access laws tell a different story,” Rogers said. “The current system makes it nearly impossible for independent and third-party candidates to compete statewide, not because of voter rejection, but because the rules are stacked against them.”

Other plaintiffs include former Dallas Mayor and U.S. Congressman Steve Bartlett, former Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley, former Texas Sen. Kel Seliger, former U.S. Congressman Alan Steelman, former U.S. Ambassador Christopher Ashby and Ward, Reeves and Loving Counties District Attorney Sarah Stogner.

The lawsuit seeks declaratory and injunctive relief and asks the court to strike down portions of Texas election law that the plaintiffs say burden independent candidates and restrict voter participation.

Plaintiffs argue Texas imposes some of the nation’s most restrictive ballot access requirements for independent statewide candidates. According to the lawsuit, Collier must gather more than 81,000 valid signatures to appear on the ballot, and because a Democratic primary runoff was held for lieutenant governor, the petitioning period was shortened from 113 days to 30 days.

Supporters of the lawsuit contend the requirements favor established political parties and well-funded candidates. They argue that ballot access should be determined by voter support rather than a candidate’s ability to finance large-scale petition drives.

The case was filed with legal representation from the Center for Competitive Democracy and Allen Overy Shearman Sterling US LLP, which are providing pro bono legal services.

As of publication, a response from state election officials had not been included in the lawsuit announcement. The claims made in the filing have not been adjudicated by the court.