Political parties, rather than local governments, administer primary elections in Texas. In the past, Democrats and Republicans have overseen them jointly.
The rules in effect Tuesday are part of local GOP leaders’ decision to hold a separate primary from Democrats this year in Dallas and Williamson counties, leading to precinct-based voting. In previous elections, individuals could cast ballots at any vote center, regardless of their address, under a countywide voting system.
It makes sense when you realize that the process for parties choosing candidates is not outlined in the Constitution or anything. A party doesn’t need to hold a primary if they don’t want to, they could just present a candidate.
If/when a party decides to have a primary, they can pretty much do it however they want.
This happens sometimes with third parties. For example, I don’t think Ross Perot had to run in a primary. Nader may have (?), but if so it was probably mostly just a formality by the Green Party.
But yeah, I would probably prefer more regulated primaries, assuming it wouldn’t just be used to fuck over progressive candidates, which it probably would be designed to do
As they often do when the incumbent is a member in good standing. The Republicans held a token Presidential primary in 2024, but they didn’t hold one in 2020, and the Democrats didn’t hold one in 2024.