Texas GOP Faces Dual Ballot and Censure Battles

State Republican leaders, joined by Attorney General Ken Paxton, have asked a court to restrict GOP primaries to registered Republicans to prevent non-Republicans from influencing outcomes, while Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson filed a notice opposing the move and will formally object, leaving the dispute to a judge. Separately, the State Republican Executive Committee is meeting Oct. 11 to consider censuring 10 House Republicans under an expanded Rule 44 that could bar them from the March 2026 Republican primary ballot for alleged disloyalty during the 2025 legislative session. Targets include Speaker Dustin Burrows (expected to receive a lesser censure) and seven leadership allies — Angie Chen Button, Jeff Leach, Morgan Meyer, Jared Patterson, Cody Harris, Angelia Orr and Gary VanDeaver — plus two retiring members. The rule change would allow local GOP organizations to keep censured officials off ballots for two years. Supporters say the measures enforce party discipline after activists argued GOP priorities were undercut, while critics and some party officials call the effort weakly justified, warn it risks voter disenfranchisement, and expect legal challenges given longstanding Texas precedents protecting ballot access.