Texas secretary of state vows to protect open primary amid GOP lawsuit

Robert Howden, appointed as Texas secretary of state, submitted a filing asserting that the office will continue to defend the state’s open primary system, directly opposing the Texas Republican Party’s lawsuit seeking to restrict primaries to registered party members. The GOP, with Attorney General Ken Paxton’s support, argues that Democrats and independents dilute Republican contests and urges a law requiring party registration to vote in primaries.

Governor Greg Abbott has voiced similar preferences, stating that only Republicans should vote in Republican primaries, while emphasizing that any change must come from the Legislature. Former secretary Jane Nelson had previously declined to intervene, saying the matter belongs to lawmakers. Howden, a former legislative director for Abbott, reiterated that stance, noting the Legislature is the proper venue for any statutory revisions. The federal case in Amarillo also represents a significant financial burden for the GOP, whose new chair D’rinda Randall reported the lawsuit fees as the party’s largest unpaid debt.