Texas GOP Sues State, Citing Open Primaries as Free Speech Violation
The Republican Party of Texas (RPT) has filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court alleging that the state’s open primary system infringes upon its First Amendment rights. The lawsuit contests the decades-long practice of allowing any registered Texas voter to participate in either party’s primary, provided they pledge not to vote in the opposing party’s primary. The RPT argues the current system enables crossover voting, potentially influencing Republican primary outcomes. Citing specific examples, including the 2024 primary runoff for Rep. Dade Phelan, the party claims this system allows non-Republicans to strategically vote in Republican primaries, undermining its ability to select its nominees.
John Q. Hosedrinker