State 2012 primary date changed after Democrats, Republicans reach agreement


By Andrea Leptinsky


Monday, 19 December 2011

In an effort lead by the state’s Republican and Democratic parties, a panel of three federal judges in San Antonio approved a request Dec. 16 to move the date of all of Texas’ primary elections from March 6 to April 3.

Under the new deal, the 2012 runoff election would be held June 5, and the primary filing deadline was extended until Dec. 19.

“We’re glad to have worked out an agreement which we feel works best for Texans,” said Boyd Richie, chairman of the Texas Democratic Party, in a news release. “Given the less-than-ideal circumstances, we think that this election schedule is a workable solution that will create the least confusion for the voters. We’re pleased that the agreement maintains a unified primary which will save taxpayers money.”

The Republican Party of Texas Chairman Steve Munisteri agreed, crediting the current status of the state’s redistricting maps as the reason that made the date change necessary.

“I am pleased that we could come to an agreement, and I hope that most Republican elected officials and Texas voters will be satisfied with this proposal,” he said. “We are hopeful that with both a timely ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court and subsequent finalized maps, that this agreement not only preserves the original structure of a unified primary, but provides us enough time to accomplish it in a fair and orderly fashion. Furthermore, this agreement addresses the concern of both the TDP and RPT by providing a timeline which still allows us to hold our respective state conventions and national delegate selection in June.”

For more on the state’s 2012 elections calendar, visit the Texas Secretary of State website. The site also hosts the federal court order authorizing the date change.