In a significant political statement, Senator John Cornyn expressed his opposition on Friday to the push by leading Texas Republicans to close the state’s GOP primaries. He cautioned that such a move could potentially lead the party towards minority status.
Texas is one of 17 states that maintain an open primary system, allowing eligible voters to participate in primaries without declaring a party affiliation. Advocates of this system argue that it encourages greater voter engagement. However, the Texas Republican Party and its prominent leaders have been advocating for closed primaries, driven by concerns over Democrats participating in GOP contests. Their proposal would require voters to register with a specific party, thus limiting access to registered Republicans only.
Cornyn voiced his concerns on social media, sharing an op-ed from the Dallas Morning News that argued against closed primaries, stating that they would likely diminish voter turnout and concentrate power within a narrower group of voters who meet specific political criteria. In his post, he highlighted the op-ed’s title, which labeled closed primaries as a “threat to Texas voters,” and responded affirmatively, stating, “Exactly.” He further remarked, “Democrats haven’t turned Texas blue; Republicans might.”
A spokesperson for Cornyn did not elaborate on the senator’s remarks.
His stance diverges from that of Governor Greg Abbott, who, during a speech at this month’s state GOP convention, endorsed the idea of closed primaries for the first time. The Texas Republican Party has since identified this initiative as a key priority for the upcoming legislative session.
Abbott’s support signifies a growing momentum for the initiative to restrict Democrats and independents from participating in Republican primaries, an effort that had previously seen limited traction. Last October, Cornyn’s opponent in the primary, Attorney General Ken Paxton, joined a lawsuit filed by the Texas GOP aimed at dismantling open primaries, arguing that the existing system violates the party’s constitutional right to freedom of association by allowing crossover voters to influence nominations.
This lawsuit faced opposition from Secretary of State Jane Nelson, who was appointed by Abbott. Nelson, a former GOP state senator, announced her resignation from the role earlier this month.
Cornyn has previously lamented the low voter turnout in his May runoff against Paxton, suggesting it played a role in his defeat. He posited that turnout, which was just below 8% of registered voters statewide, would likely have decreased even further under a closed primary system.
Political science professor Cal Jillson from Southern Methodist University commented, “If Texas adopted party registration and the Republican Party instituted a closed primary, that would lower turnout in the primary and likely make that turnout more highly partisan and ideological, potentially making candidates less appealing in the general election.”
As Cornyn prepares to exit the Senate following his defeat to Paxton in the Republican primary runoff, his remarks represent the latest in a series of critical statements directed at the right wing of his party. He has recently engaged in disputes with Senator Mike Lee of Utah, arguing that Lee’s efforts to advance the GOP’s priority voting restrictions bill are unrealistic.
