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Federal judge pauses Texas GOP effort to close primary elections
Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk said lawmakers are likely to pass a new law, and he paused the case until the next legislative session ends.
- On Friday, Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk paused a bid by Texas Republicans to restrict GOP primary participation to registered members, effectively maintaining the State's current open primary system for now.
- The Republican Party lawsuit argues open primaries violate their First Amendment right to association, claiming state law "forces the Party to allow voters who may fundamentally oppose the Party's principles and candidates to choose the Party's nominees."
- Urgency intensified two years ago when incumbent moderates House Speaker Dade Phelan and Gary VanDeaver held off challengers by fewer than 800 votes, with Republican leaders alleging Democratic- and independent-leaning voters enabled their victories.
- Gov. Greg Abbott reiterated that "only Republicans vote in Republican primaries" during the Texas Republican Convention, while Secretary Robert Howden stated in a filing he intends to defend the State's open primary laws.
- Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk wrote "Prominent Texas politicians support similar legislative action in the upcoming 2027 Regular Session," and both parties must provide an update on the case at the end of the Legislative Session.
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7 Articles
The Texas Tribune+2 Reposted by 2 other sources
Federal judge pauses Texas Republicans’ bid to close primaries
U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk said in his ruling that he expects Republicans to succeed in restricting primaries to voters registered with the party during the next legislative session.
·Austin, United States
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources7
Leaning Left2Leaning Right0Center4Last UpdatedBias Distribution67% Center
Bias Distribution
- 67% of the sources are Center
67% Center
L 33%
C 67%
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