Federal judge pauses Texas GOP lawsuit over closed primaries

A federal judge has paused a lawsuit brought by the Republican Party of Texas that sought to restrict primary election participation to registered party members. U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk ruled that the case should be held in abeyance because the Texas Legislature may address the issue during its 2027 session.

The Republican Party of Texas argued that the state’s current system, which allows non-members to participate in GOP primaries, violates the party’s First Amendment right of association. Republican leaders, including Governor Greg Abbott, have advocated for closed primaries to prevent voters from other parties from influencing the selection of nominees.

While the judge did not rule on the constitutional validity of the party’s claims, he noted that prominent Texas politicians support similar legislative action. The state’s current system remains in place, with the next primary election scheduled for 2028.