The Libertarian Party of Texas (LPTexas) strongly opposes House Bill 5430, which would bar any candidate who files for nomination with more than one political party in the same voting year from appearing on the general primary ballot, receiving nomination by convention, or running as an independent or write-in candidate in the same election cycle.

This bill is a blatant restriction on political expression and a direct assault on voter choice. It undermines the rights of individuals to freely associate and to seek office—fundamental rights that LPTexas defends as part of its unwavering commitment to personal liberty and limited government.

Under the guise of electoral "order," HB 5430 strengthens the grip of the political establishment and the two-party duopoly by suppressing alternative voices. By imposing harsh penalties—including disqualification from any path to the general election—on candidates who dare to explore or align with more than one political avenue, this bill stifles political innovation, marginalizes third parties, and entrenches political power in the hands of a few.

LPTexas believes that “all people should be equal before the law, free to deal with one another in a free market,” including the marketplace of ideas and political competition. Party affiliation, ballot access, and political participation should be governed by voluntary association—not coerced conformity. HB 5430 does the opposite: it weaponizes ballot access to punish dissenters and challengers who do not conform to the dominant political structure.

We call on the Texas Legislature to reject HB 5430 and to pursue electoral reforms that expand, rather than contract, democratic participation. All eligible voters and candidates deserve a system that values freedom of association, political plurality, and a truly competitive electoral process.