Tex. Codes » Election Code · TITLE 15. REGULATING POLITICAL FUNDS AND CAMPAIGNS · CHAPTER 253. RESTRICTIONS ON CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENDITURES
Texas Codes

Tex. Elec. Code § 253.131 (2026)

Liability To Candidates

✓ laws through the 89th Legislature (2025)
Find cases: SyfertCases citing this section TX-LEGstatutes.capitol.texas.gov Justiaon Justia CornellLII Search CasesGoogle Scholar

Sec. 253.131. LIABILITY TO CANDIDATES. (a) A person who knowingly makes or accepts a campaign contribution or makes a campaign expenditure in violation of this chapter is liable for damages as provided by this section.

(b) If the contribution or expenditure is in support of a candidate, each opposing candidate whose name appears on the ballot is entitled to recover damages under this section.

(c) If the contribution or expenditure is in opposition to a candidate, the candidate is entitled to recover damages under this section.

(d) In this section, "damages" means:

(1) twice the value of the unlawful contribution or expenditure; and

(2) reasonable attorney's fees incurred in the suit.

(e) Reasonable attorney's fees incurred in the suit may be awarded to the defendant if judgment is rendered in the defendant's favor.

Amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 899, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 32 cases (4 in the last 5 years), 1990–2024 · leading case: Osterberg v. Peca, 12 S.W.3d 31 (Tex. 2000).
Sort: Relevance Newest Treatment
Osterberg v. Peca, 12 S.W.3d 31 (Tex. 2000). · cites it 17× “Tex. ELEC.CODE § 253.131. Peca claimed that the Osterbergs violated Chapter 253 of the Election Code by failing to report the direct campaign expenditures they made for the television advertisements.”
In re Guerra, 235 S.W.3d 392 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2007). · cites it 4× “[61] These cases rely on Texas Election Code section 253.131, which provides a civil action for damages against a campaign contributor or candidate who makes an expenditure of money in violation of the Election Code.”
Aaron Rents, Inc. v. Travis Cent. Appraisal Dist., 212 S.W.3d 665 (Tex. App.—Austin 2006). · cites it 2× “" See Tex. Elec.Code Ann. § 253.131(e) (West 2003); see also id.”
King Street Patriots v. Texas Democratic Party Gilberto Hinojosa, 521 S.W.3d 729 (Tex. 2017). · cites it 2× “” Tex. Elec. Code §§ 253.131(d), .132(b). .”
Delay v. State, 465 S.W.3d 232 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014). “See Tex. Elec.Code § 253.131(a) ("A person who knowingly makes or accepts a campaign contribution or makes a campaign expenditure in violation of this chapter is liable for damages as provided by this section.”
City of El Paso & John F. Cook v. Tom Brown Ministries, 505 S.W.3d 124 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2016). · cites it 2× “Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 253.131 (West 2010).”
King Street Patriots v. Texas Democratic Party, 459 S.W.3d 631 (Tex. App.—Austin 2014). · cites it 4× “Among the grounds asserted to support summary judgment in their favor, appellants urged that: (i) the sections creating private rights of action for Election Code violations, see Tex. Elec. Code §§ 253.131, 253.132, 273.”
Delay, Thomas Dale, 443 S.W.3d 909 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014). “See Tex. Elec.Code § 253.131(a) (“A person who knowingly makes or accepts a campaign contribution or makes a campaign expenditure in violation of this chapter is liable for damages as provided by this section.”
Osterberg v. Peca, 952 S.W.2d 121 (Tex. App.—El Paso 1997). · cites it 5× “TexElection Code Ann. § 253.131 (Vernon Supp.”
Ragsdale v. Progressive Voters League, 790 S.W.2d 77 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1990). “Now see Tex.Elec.Code Ann. § 253.131 (Vernon Supp.”
Baca v. Sanchez, 172 S.W.3d 93 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2005). “, Tex. Elec.Code Ann. § 253.131 (Vernon 2003); see also Osterberg v.”
Reynaldo Gonzalez Jr. v. Morgan Graham, No. 13-23-00091-CV (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi–Edinburg Jan. 18, 2024). · cites it 5× “003; TEX. ELEC. CODE ANN. § 253.131. By three issues that we have reorganized, Gonzalez argues the trial court erred in denying his motion to dismiss because: (1) Graham lacks standing to bring her claim; (2) the TCPA applies to his claim and Graham failed to demonstrate a prima…”
Show all 32 citing cases →
Tex. Elec. Code § 253.131(a): 9 cases
Osterberg v. Peca, 12 S.W.3d 31 (Tex. 2000). “Tex. ELEC.CODE § 253.131. Peca claimed that the Osterbergs violated Chapter 253 of the Election Code by failing to report the direct campaign expenditures they made for the television advertisements.”
Delay v. State, 465 S.W.3d 232 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014). “See Tex. Elec.Code § 253.131(a) ("A person who knowingly makes or accepts a campaign contribution or makes a campaign expenditure in violation of this chapter is liable for damages as provided by this section.”
Delay, Thomas Dale, 443 S.W.3d 909 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014). “See Tex. Elec.Code § 253.131(a) (“A person who knowingly makes or accepts a campaign contribution or makes a campaign expenditure in violation of this chapter is liable for damages as provided by this section.”
Osterberg v. Peca, 952 S.W.2d 121 (Tex. App.—El Paso 1997). “TexElection Code Ann. § 253.131 (Vernon Supp.”
Anthony G. Buzbee v. Clear Channel Outdoor, LLC., 616 S.W.3d 14 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2020).
Tex. Elec. Code § 253.131(b): 2 cases
Reynaldo Gonzalez Jr. v. Morgan Graham, No. 13-23-00091-CV (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi–Edinburg Jan. 18, 2024). “003; TEX. ELEC. CODE ANN. § 253.131. By three issues that we have reorganized, Gonzalez argues the trial court erred in denying his motion to dismiss because: (1) Graham lacks standing to bring her claim; (2) the TCPA applies to his claim and Graham failed to demonstrate a prima…”
Reynaldo Gonzalez Jr. v. Morgan Graham, No. 13-23-00091-CV (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi–Edinburg Jan. 18, 2024).
Tex. Elec. Code § 253.131(c): 2 cases
Reynaldo Gonzalez Jr. v. Morgan Graham, No. 13-23-00091-CV (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi–Edinburg Jan. 18, 2024). “003; TEX. ELEC. CODE ANN. § 253.131. By three issues that we have reorganized, Gonzalez argues the trial court erred in denying his motion to dismiss because: (1) Graham lacks standing to bring her claim; (2) the TCPA applies to his claim and Graham failed to demonstrate a prima…”
Reynaldo Gonzalez Jr. v. Morgan Graham, No. 13-23-00091-CV (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi–Edinburg Jan. 18, 2024).
Tex. Elec. Code § 253.131(d): 1 case
King Street Patriots v. Texas Democratic Party Gilberto Hinojosa, 521 S.W.3d 729 (Tex. 2017). “” Tex. Elec. Code §§ 253.131(d), .132(b). .”
Tex. Elec. Code § 253.131(d)(1): 1 case
Osterberg v. Peca, 952 S.W.2d 121 (Tex. App.—El Paso 1997). “TexElection Code Ann. § 253.131 (Vernon Supp.”
Tex. Elec. Code § 253.131(d)(2): 1 case
Osterberg v. Peca, 12 S.W.3d 31 (Tex. 2000). “Tex. ELEC.CODE § 253.131. Peca claimed that the Osterbergs violated Chapter 253 of the Election Code by failing to report the direct campaign expenditures they made for the television advertisements.”
Tex. Elec. Code § 253.131(e): 9 cases
Aaron Rents, Inc. v. Travis Cent. Appraisal Dist., 212 S.W.3d 665 (Tex. App.—Austin 2006). “" See Tex. Elec.Code Ann. § 253.131(e) (West 2003); see also id.”
King Street Patriots v. Texas Democratic Party Gilberto Hinojosa, 521 S.W.3d 729 (Tex. 2017). “” Tex. Elec. Code §§ 253.131(d), .132(b). .”
King Street Patriots v. Texas Democratic Party, 459 S.W.3d 631 (Tex. App.—Austin 2014). “Among the grounds asserted to support summary judgment in their favor, appellants urged that: (i) the sections creating private rights of action for Election Code violations, see Tex. Elec. Code §§ 253.131, 253.132, 273.”
Chris Bell v. Repub. Governors Ass'n, No. 03-15-00078-CV (Tex. App.—Austin May 11, 2015).
RSS MSBAM2014C17-TX HAH, LLC v. Houston Airport Hosp. LP, No. 01-21-00042-CV, 2024 WL 3995434 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] Aug. 30, 2024).
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.