The Texas Republican Party is looking to close its primaries, setting up a legal battle in court.

Texas has open primaries, allowing any voters to vote in party primaries, including voters who align with the opposing party. The practice favors centrist candidates, who can rely on independent and Democratic centrists to support them over more partisan candidates. The Texas Republican Party, among the most conservative in the country, is looking to end the practice in order to favor more conservative candidates.

“As Chairman of the Republican Party of Texas, I am fully committed to upholding the rules, priorities, and platform adopted by our delegates,” Chairman Abraham George said in a statement after a motion to close the primaries was overwhelmingly passed by the State Republican Executive Committee. “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.”

“Our primaries should reflect Republican values — not outside interference,” George added. “The grassroots are demanding action, and the SREC is delivering. We are putting Texas Republicans back in charge of Texas Republican elections.”

A press release from the party said the decision “reflects the will of Texas grassroots conservatives” and reflects the vote of delegates in the 2024 State Convention. It further warned that open primaries allowed “Democrats and progressive activists to manipulate Republican outcomes, weakening our candidates and diluting our values.”

“With this amendment, the Republican Party of Texas sends a clear message: we will not allow our nomination process to be hijacked,” the release said, adding that it was part of a broader conservative mission to protect election integrity and party sovereignty.

The move would all but seal incumbent Sen. John Cornyn’s (R-TX) fate in the 2026 Senate primary. The senator is far behind in polls to state Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Trump ally looking to oust the long-serving centrist.

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Open primaries could also spell trouble for Reps. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) and Tony Gonzales (R-TX), both relative centrists who have faced tough primary challengers in the past.

Though the preferred move of most Texas Republicans, it is likely to set up a lengthy legal battle.