2000: The Green Party of Texas qualified for statewide ballot status in May 2000.
In Texas, the criteria to qualify for statewide ballot status is a number of petition signers equal to 1% of the previous gubernatorial vote. The petition signatures must be gathered in 75 days after the primary election, and only from people who didn’t vote in the primary.
In 2000, the total number of petition signers needed was 37,381. The Green Party of Texas gathered over 72,000 petition signatures. As of May 2000, enough were deemed valid by state elections officials to clear the 37,381 threshold for the Green Party of Texas to qualify for November 2000 statewide ballot status.
2000: The Green Party of Texas retained statewide ballot status in November 2000.
The criteria for retaining ballot status in Texas is to receive either 5% in any statewide race other governor, or 2% for governor.
In November 2024 elections three candidates passed the 5% needed for the Green Party of Texas to retain its statewide ballot status: Ben Levy received 451,333 votes (9.71%) for Texas Supreme Court; Gary Dugger received 344,820 votes (7.31%) for Texas Railroad Commission (full term); and Charles Mauch received 334,706 votes (7.16%) for Texas Railroad Commission (unexpired term).
For more information on the 2000 qualification effort, see Tejas Verde, the Green Party of Texas state newsletter: Nearly Half a Million Texans Vote Green; Party to Stay on Ballot for 2002; Candidate Levy Sets National Record • Statewide Candidates Ensure Green Ballot Access for 2002
2002: The Green Party of Texas failed to retain its statewide ballot status in November 2002.
The criteria for retaining ballot status in Texas is to receive either 5% in any statewide race other governor, or 2% for governor.
In November 2024 elections, eleven statewide Green Party candidates received between 0.6% and 1.8%. In contrast to 2000, when Greens ran mostly in two-way and three-way statewide races without Democrats participating, in 2002 Democrats ran for several statewide races for the first time since before 1986, with the intent of preventing the Greens from retaining ballot status.
2004: The Green Party of Texas failed to qualify for statewide ballot status in May 2004.
In Texas, the criteria to qualify for statewide ballot status is a number of petition signers equal to 1% of the previous gubernatorial vote. The petition signatures must be gathered in 75 days after the primary election, and only from people who didn’t vote in the primary.
In 2004, the total number of petition signers needed was 45,540. With an all-volunteer effort, the Green Party of Texas did not gather a sufficient number of signatures to qualify for November 2004 statewide ballot status.
2006: The Green Party of Texas failed to qualify for statewide ballot status in May 2006.
In Texas, the criteria to qualify for statewide ballot status is a number of petition signers equal to 1% of the previous gubernatorial vote. The petition signatures must be gathered in 75 days after the primary election, and only from people who didn’t vote in the primary.
In 2006, the total number of petition signers needed was 45,540. The Green Party of Texas gathered approximately 27,000 signatures, below the threshold for the Green Party of Texas to qualify for November 2006 statewide ballot status.
2008: The Green Party of Texas failed to qualify for statewide ballot status in May 2008.
In Texas, the criteria to qualify for statewide ballot status is a number of petition signers equal to 1% of the previous gubernatorial vote. The petition signatures must be gathered in 75 days after the primary election, and only from people who didn’t vote in the primary.
In 2008, the total number of petition signers needed was 43,991. The Green Party of Texas did not conduct a signature drive and therefore did not qualify for November 2008 statewide ballot status.
2010: The Green Party of Texas qualified for statewide ballot status in May 2010.
In Texas, the criteria to qualify for statewide ballot status is a number of petition signers equal to 1% of the previous gubernatorial vote. The petition signatures must be gathered in 75 days after the primary election, and only from people who didn’t vote in the primary.
In 2010, the total number of petition signers needed was 43,991. Over 92,000 petition signatures were gathered. As of May 2000, enough were deemed valid by state elections officials to clear the 43,991 threshold for the Green Party of Texas to qualify for November 2000 statewide ballot status. Subsequently the Texas Democratic Party sued to disqualify the signatures in district court and was initially successful, but then that decision was stayed by the Texas Supreme Court and the Green Party’s candidates were reinstated for the November 2010 elections.
2010: The Green Party of Texas retained statewide ballot status in November 2010.
The criteria for retaining ballot status in Texas is to receive either 5% in any statewide race other governor, or 2% for governor.
In November 2010 elections Ed Lindsay ran for Comptroller and received 252,233 votes (6.34%), sufficient to achieve ballot status
2012: The Green Party of Texas retained statewide ballot status in November 2012.
The criteria for retaining ballot status in Texas is to receive either 5% in any statewide race other governor, or 2% for governor.
In November 2012 elections Charles Waterbury ran for Supreme Court justice and received 493,208 votes (8.04%). and Josh Wendel ran for Railroad Commissioner and received 486,485 votes (7.91%). Both totals were sufficient to retain ballot status.
2014: The Green Party of Texas retained statewide ballot status in November 2014.
The criteria for retaining ballot status in Texas is to receive either 5% in any statewide race other governor, or 2% for governor.
In November 2014 elections, Judith Sanders-Castro ran for Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals Place 4 and received 394, 015 (10.44%), Jim Chisholm ran for Justice, Supreme Court, Place 8 and received 345,675 votes (9.24%) and George Altgelt ran for Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals Place 9 and received 320,520 votes (8.56%). All three were sufficient to retain ballot status.
2016: The Green Party of Texas failed to retain its statewide ballot status in November 2016.
The criteria for retaining ballot status in Texas is to receive either 5% in any statewide race other governor, or 2% for governor.
In November 2016 elections, six Green candidates ran for statewide office, receiving between 1.23% and 3.28%, with Martina Salinas‘s 287, 105 votes (3.28%) for State Railroad Commissioner being the highest, but still below the 5% threshold.
2018: The Green Party of Texas failed to gain statewide ballot status in May 2018.
In Texas, the criteria to qualify for statewide ballot status is a number of petition signers equal to 1% of the previous gubernatorial vote. The petition signatures must be gathered in 75 days after the primary election, and only from people who didn’t vote in the primary.
In 2018, the total number of petition signers needed was 47,183. The Green Party petition drive reportedly gained only approximately 500 signatures, too few to qualify the party, meaning no Green candidates appeared on the November 2018 ballot for any statewide races, nor were there any Green write-in candidates for the same said races. For this reason, the Green party failed to regain its statewide ballot status.
2019: The Green Party of Texas regained statewide ballot status for November 2020 elections.
In 2019 the Texas Legislature enacted House Bill 2504, amending Ballot Access Threshold Section 181.005 of the Texas Election Code related to parties like the Green Party, that nominate candidates by the convention process. Under pre-existing law, a party’s candidates had been guaranteed a place on the general election ballot if the party’s nominee for a statewide office received at least 5% in the previous general election. HB 2504 lowered that threshold to 2% at least once in any of the five previous general elections. Since the Green Party satisfied the 2% threshold in the 2016 general election, it became entitled to have its candidates placed on the general election ballot in 2020 and through the 2026 November elections.
2020: The Green Party of Texas did not extend, but did retain statewide ballot status in November 2020
The criteria for retaining ballot status in Texas is to receive 2% in any statewide race at least once in any of the five previous general elections
Katija Gruene ran for Statewide Railroad Commissioner and received129, 638 votes (1.18 %) and David Collins ran for U.S. Senate and received 81,893 votes (0.73 %). Neither total was sufficient to extend the Green Party’s ballot status for another ten years. But the party retained its status through the November 2026 elections owing its passing the 2% threshold in November 2016 elections.
2022: The Green Party of Texas did not extend, but did retain statewide ballot status in November 2022
The criteria for retaining ballot status in Texas is to receive 2% in any statewide race at least once in any of the five previous general elections.
Alfred Molison ran for Commissioner of the General Land Office and received 133,034 votes (1.67 %); Hunter Crow ran for Statewide Railroad Commissioner and received 85570 votes (1.08 %); and Delilah Barrios ran for Governor and received 28,584 votes (0.35 %). None of these totals were sufficient to extend the Green Party’s ballot status for another ten years. But the party retained its status through the November 2026 elections owing its passing the 2% threshold in November 2016 elections.
2024: The Green Party of Texas extended statewide ballot status in November 2024
The criteria for retaining ballot status in Texas is to receive 2% in any statewide race at least once in any of the five previous general elections.
Eddie Espinoza ran for Statewide Railroad Commissioner and received 301,793 votes (2.7%), qualifying the party for ballot for the next five general elections, through the November 2034 election cycle.
