Texas GOP Chair Abraham George announced a new effort Monday to protect the state’s primary elections from Democrat influence.
In a public statement shared via his official X account, George said the Republican Party of Texas is prepared to take firm action to ensure the integrity and sovereignty of its primaries, which he argued are under threat from Democrat influence. “This is not just about a rule change-it’s about protecting the integrity of our elections and defending the voice of our Conservative base,” George said in his statement.
“Only Republicans should pick Republican nominees. That’s how we protect our platform, our values, and our future. Texas is red. Let’s keep it that way,” George continued.
Talks to close the primary have circulated in Texas GOP circles for years, with some Republicans accusing moderate incumbents of surviving by drawing in Democratic crossover votes. Former Speaker of the Texas House Dade Phelan was accused by his primary opponent, David Covey, of retaining his seat due only to Democratic support, according to Texas Scorecard.
Reactions to the announcement among Texas Republicans have been mixed. Some praised the move as a long-overdue effort to protect conservative values, while others warned it could backfire.
“Closed primaries would have blocked Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump,” State Representative Carl Tepper wrote on X.
“Hopefully, it’ll weed out watered-down RINOs and allow truly conservative candidates to have a level playing field. Now, we’ve got to work on educating and turning out voters for primary elections,” Congressional District 23 candidate Zeke Enriquez posted on X.
“Fantastic news! Republican primaries are for Republicans!” wrote Collin County precinct chair Rohit Joy.
“For too long, Democrats have had far too much influence in Republican primaries. Closing them is necessary to keep Democrats from interfering in our elections. This is the first step to replacing America’s last RINOs,” Tarrant County Republican Party Chairman Bo French told The Dallas Express.