Momentum is building behind efforts to close Texas’ Republican primaries, with Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick voicing support for the proposal and House Speaker Dustin Burrows’ office describing it as one of the priorities for the 90th Legislature.
Texas currently operates under an open primary system, allowing voters to choose which party’s primary they wish to participate in during a given election cycle. Closing the primaries by requiring party registration is a priority of the Republican Party of Texas.
During an interview with Mark Davis on Wednesday, Patrick said he supports closing Republican primaries and expects legislation to reach Abbott’s desk.
“I don’t oppose it. I’ll support it,” Patrick said. “I believe we’ll pass it to the governor’s desk.”
Patrick acknowledged concerns from some Republicans that closing the primary could discourage crossover voters—particularly Hispanic voters in South Texas—but said he still believes closed primaries are “a good thing.”
Following Patrick’s remarks, Texas Scorecard asked House Speaker Dustin Burrows’ office whether the proposal would be a priority for the House.
“Speaker Burrows is working hard to make sure every Republican is reelected so they can work on Republican priorities, including this one, next session,” a spokesperson responded.
These latest developments come weeks after Abbott endorsed the proposal during his speech to delegates at the Republican Party of Texas convention.
“Let me just emphasize we are going to make clear that in the future only Republicans vote in Republican elections,” Abbott declared.
Following his speech, Abbott told Texas Scorecard he preferred addressing the issue through legislation rather than relying on the courts.
“Legislators can and should be more responsive to Republicans than a judge may be,” Abbott said.
Abbott has since hired former State Rep. Nate Schatzline as a senior adviser on election integrity, with a focus on advancing closed-primary legislation ahead of next year’s legislative session.
While Abbott has called for lawmakers to address the issue, some advocates of closed primaries argue the Republican Party should not need legislative approval. They contend political parties have a constitutional right to determine who may participate in their nominating contests and have criticized relying on the Legislature instead of allowing the courts to resolve the pending lawsuit.
Legislation to close the primaries did not receive a committee hearing in either chamber during the most recent legislative session.
Last year, the Republican Party of Texas sued then-Secretary of State Jane Nelson after her office declined to implement a closed-primary system adopted by the party. The lawsuit argues the party has a constitutional right to determine who participates in its nominating process and remains pending in federal court in Amarillo.
Nelson, meanwhile, is set to step down as secretary of state on July 17, ending her tenure as the state’s top elections official.
