On December 19, 2011, the first round of candidate filing closed for the April 3, 2012, primary election.

A second round of primary election filing will begin after a new date is decided by federal court order due to the battle over redistricting; the second round deadline will be February 1, 2012.

The following candidates have filed for places on the ballot in the upcoming Republican (R) and Democrat (D) primaries.

Sheriff – Bill Elsbury (R, incumbent)

County Attorney – David Hall (R), Chelita Riley (R)

Tax Assessor-Collector – Hollis West Boatright (R, incumbent)

County Commissioner, Precinct 3 – Chris Liesmann (R, incumbent)

Constable, Precinct 1 – Larry Haley (R, incumbent)

Constable, Precinct 2 – Ron Steubing (R, incumbent)

District Attorney, 33rd/424th Judicial Districts – Wiley “Sonny” McAfee (R), Angela Dowdle (R), Steven Michael Todd (R)

District Judge, 33rd Judicial District – Richard D. Davis (R), Allan Garrett (R)

State Representative, District 45 – Jason A. Issac (R, incumbent), John Adams (D)

State Senator, District 24 – Troy Fraser (R, incumbent)

State Board of Education, District 5 – Ken Mercer (R, incumbent), Steve Salyer (R), Rebecca Bell-Metereau (D)

U.S. Representative, District 21 – Lamar Smith (R, incumbent), Elaine Henderson (D)

U.S. Senator – Republicans: Glenn Addison, Tom Leppert, Ted Cruz, Charles Holcomb, David Dewhurst, Curt Cleaver, Ben Gambini, Lela Pittenger, “Doc Joe” Agris, Craig James. Democrats: Paul Sadler, Addie Dainell Allen, Daniel Boone, Jason A. Gibson, Sean Hubbard.