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The Texas Republican Party voted over the weekend to limit GOP primaries in Texas to registered Republican voters.
The rule change would mandate that voters register as Republicans with the Texas Secretary of State prior to voting in the primaries.
The move comes as senior Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, is facing a primary challenger in Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in what is shaping up as an ugly primary. The rule would take effect ahead of the Senate Republican primary in 2026.
If the GOP primary is closed off to voters not registered as Republicans, it would appear to benefit Paxton. A May poll found that Paxton performed better among likely Republican primary voters surveyed.
The polling also found, however, that Cornyn fared better in several hypothetical general election matchups against Democrats than Paxton, suggesting the Senate incumbent is generally favored among less conservative voters. Paxton’s potential greater vulnerability to a Democrat challenger has been raised as a liability for Republicans in their effort to maintain a Senate GOP majority and “maximize [President Donald] Trump’s down-ballot coattails in Texas.”
In the Texas capital city of Austin, the State Republican Executive Committee assembled for its second-quarter meeting on Friday and Saturday. According to a press statement issued by the party, the overwhelming majority of members voted to amend Rule 46 of its bylaws. That’s a crucial step in the process to limit participation in the party’s primary elections to registered Republicans only. The move follows the 2024 Texas GOP State Convention, which saw a majority of delegates vote to close the primary. --->READ MORE HERE
Texas GOP Moves Forward With Closed Primaries, Chairman Says Lawsuit Likely
The Republican Party of Texas is pressing ahead with its effort to prevent Democrats from voting in GOP primaries, advancing a rule change intended to limit participation to registered Republicans only—and setting the stage for a likely legal battle.
At its quarterly meeting over the weekend, the State Republican Executive Committee approved an amendment to Rule 46, which party leaders said will “clarify, strengthen, and solidify” the GOP’s commitment to allowing only Republicans to choose Republican nominees.
The new rule would require voters to register with the secretary of state as Republicans before voting in the primary, setting up potential litigation.
Legal observers say the lawsuits could range from Democrats wanting to maintain their access to the GOP primary to the GOP suing the state to enforce their right to control their own nominating process.
“This move reflects the will of Texas grassroots conservatives and honors the clear directive from the delegates of the 2024 State Convention, who voted overwhelmingly to close our primaries,” Texas GOP Chairman Abraham George said in a press release issued Monday. “Only Republicans should pick Republican nominees. That’s how we protect our platform, our values, and our future. Texas is red. Let’s keep it that way—by keeping our primaries red.”
Speaking Monday morning on The Chris Salcedo Show, George emphasized the reasoning behind the change, pointing to long-standing concerns over Democrat crossover voting in Republican primaries. --->READ MORE HEREFollow link below to a relevant story:
+++++Republican Party of Texas retains law firm to bar non-members from their primaries+++++
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