Texas GOP Votes to Close Primaries to Registered Republicans

The Texas Republican Party is seeking to change its primary elections from an open to a closed system, allowing only registered Republicans to vote in GOP primaries. This move, supported overwhelmingly by the State Republican Executive Committee and driven by party chairman Abraham George, aims to prevent Democrats and independents from influencing Republican nominations, which the party argues dilutes conservative values and election integrity. The change would notably affect the 2026 Senate primary, potentially benefiting Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Trump ally, over incumbent Sen. John Cornyn, who currently polls better among independent and less conservative voters. The party plans to pursue legal action to challenge Texas's open primary system, emphasizing that the nominating process should be controlled solely by Republicans. This shift reflects a broader conservative push to safeguard party sovereignty and could impact other Republican incumbents facing primary challenges from the right. The proposal is expected to face legal challenges due to its significant alteration of voter participation rules in Texas primaries.