12 Weeks Behind Schedule, a Primary Election

Finally.

The Texas political primaries will be on May 29, a panel of federal judges ordered Thursday, and candidates can file for those elections between now and Friday, March 9.

Candidates who already filed can drop out, stand pat or switch to other races. Candidates who didn't sign up during a filing period last year can sign up now. The parties have to deliver a completed list of their candidates to the Texas Secretary of State by Monday, March 12.

The three federal judges unveiled maps for legislative and congressional elections earlier this week. Those maps won't necessarily last for the decade, but barring a successful (and fast) appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, they're the maps that will be used for the 2012 elections.

Legislative candidates don't have to live in the districts where they file, but they have to establish residency by April 9 and remain there through the general election in November (congressional candidates aren't legally required to live in the districts they represent).

Runoff elections, where required, will be held on July 31, according to the court's order.