Good morning,

For years, Republicans have been frustrated by "Democrat interference" in the GOP primaries. In today's One Click Survey, we want to know what you think about efforts to "close" the primaries in Texas.

This is the Texas Minute for Monday, Sept. 8, 2025.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Texas GOP Sues State To Close Primaries

• As part of a long-running battle to stop Democrats from engaging at the last minute in the Republican primary, Brandon Waltens reports that the Texas GOP is suing the Lone Star State in federal court to block “crossover voting.”
       
• The lawsuit argues that Texas’ open primary system—in which Democrats and independents may choose a Republican ballot—violates the GOP’s First Amendment right of association. Party leaders say the current system allows non-Republicans to select GOP nominees, undermining both the party’s platform and its grassroots members.
      
• The lawsuit builds on Rule 46, adopted by Republican delegates at their convention in 2024, which requires voters to be registered as Republicans before casting ballots in GOP primaries. The rule came in response to years of frustration with “Democrat interference” in Republican contests.
      
• Legislative efforts to close Texas' primaries—through measures filed by State Reps. Mike Schofield and Briscoe Cain, and Sen. Mayes Middleton—failed to advance in either chamber.
       
• Secretary of State Jane Nelson, an appointee of Gov. Greg Abbott, has indicated she will only certify candidates chosen through the current open system.

School Nurses Refusing to Provide Basic First Aid to Students

• In response to the newly adopted "Parental Bill of Rights," some school nurses are refusing to provide students with basic first aid. Addie Hovland reports on a troubling trend among nurses working in Texas' schools.
     
• The new law was designed to provide transparency for parents regarding the care their children receive while at school. Specifically, the law requires schools to get annual permission from parents when conducting any routine physical or mental health examinations.
      
• The Senate author and House sponsor of the law—Brandon Creighton and Jeff Leach, respectively—are calling on the commissioner of the Texas Education Agency to address a dangerous trend of nurses refusing to provide first aid because parents opted their children out of mental health examinations. The lawmakers are requesting that “simple common sense” still be used when creating school policies.
      
• "With all due respect, if you can’t distinguish offering a Band-Aid or an ice pack from offering more serious medical and/or mental health services that should require parental involvement and consent, then maybe we need to be a lot more concerned than we already were." – Jeff Leach
      
• For example, a nurse working for Lovejoy ISD told parents in an email that she would not be "putting on a bandaid, helping with a nosebleed, or even checking a temperature" unless parents agree to all services being made available to their children.

Lottery Commission Staff Still Runs the Texas Lottery and Bingo

• Even though the Lottery Commission has been disbanded, the staff from the scandal-plagued agency is still overseeing the day-to-day operations under the auspices of the game's new home: the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Paige Feild has the story.
      
• TDLR's vice chairman, Thomas Butler, said during a public meeting that there had not been enough time to fully vet staff and an auditor when bringing on the team. Instead, the TDLR board went with the lottery staff's recommendations.
      
• After controversy and investigations into two major jackpots, lawmakers came close to abolishing the Texas Lottery this year. Accusations of money laundering and illegal online ticket sales led to leadership resignations and heavy scrutiny from Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and lawmakers.

Creighton Named Sole Finalist for Texas Tech Chancellor

• Following up on a story from last week, State Sen. Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe) has been named the sole finalist for the chancellorship of the Texas Tech University System. Adam Cahn reports that the announcement was finalized in a special meeting of the Tech regents.
       

• Naming a sole finalist for the position triggers a 21-day waiting period before the hire is official. 
       

• Creighton will have to resign his seat in the Texas Senate before he can accept the job, which would then require Gov. Greg Abbott to call a special election to fill that vacancy.

After Pardon, Daniel Perry Prosecution Shifts to ‘Deadly Conduct’ Case

• Despite having been pardoned for murder by Gov. Greg Abbott, Daniel Perry continues to face prosecution in Travis County—now for misdemeanor “deadly conduct” tied to the same 2020 protest shooting. Travis Morgan breaks down the details of a case that has captivated the nation as an example of a weaponized political prosecution.
      
• Among other revelations, the lead detective in Perry’s case has come forward with allegations of prosecutorial misconduct and witness tampering, raising new questions about the integrity of the ongoing proceedings and actions of local prosecutors.
     
• In July 2020, Perry was driving an Uber in downtown Austin to earn extra cash as a sergeant in the U.S. Army. His vehicle was surrounded by Black Lives Matter protestors, one of whom was an armed white man. Perry claims that he shot the man in self-defense as the situation became increasingly unstable.
      
• Former Austin Police Department homicide detective David Fugitt, who led the investigation, has said he was told to withhold "exculpatory evidence" about the case.

Today In History

On Sept. 8, 1900, a hurricane struck Galveston, destroying a third of the city and leaving nearly 8,000 people dead. It is considered the worst natural disaster in U.S. history.

Quote-Unquote

"A political party cannot be all things to all people. It must represent certain fundamental beliefs which must not be compromised to political expediency or simply to swell its numbers."

– Ronald Reagan​

One Click Survey

As reported above, the Republican Party of Texas has filed a lawsuit against the state in order to enforce its decision to close the 2026 primaries. This would involve individuals declaring their party affiliation ahead of the primary.

Do you agree with closing the GOP primary?

Once you’ve clicked an answer, reply to this email with any thoughts you’d like to share!

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