TEXAS REDISTRICTING

The San Antonio panel told the Democratic and Republican parties today to prepare tentatively for a May 29 primary and asked the parties to submit proposed changes to the Texas Election Code deadlines and party procedures based on that date.

Both parties have said they would keep their state conventions on the second weekend of June, which means that a number of internal party rules- as well as parts of the Texas Election Code- would have to change to accommodate a primary that does not occur until shortly before the state convention.

Chad Dunn, general counsel for the Texas Democratic Party, said his party likely would choose to forgo precinct conventions and move directly to senate district and county conventions. After the hearing, Steve Munisteri, chair of the Republican Party of Texas, told reporters that he would be discussing a similar arrangement with the State Republican Executive Committee.

Under the possible proposal outlined by Munisteri, district conventions would be held in April as scheduled but would be open to all comers who swear an oath that they are a Republican. At the district convention, attendees would break into precinct caucuses and elect delegates to the state convention in June, where, in turn, national delegates would be selected.

The court did not discuss the date for runoff elections but discussion after the hearing suggested that an early August date was most likely.

The court said it would finalize a date based on progress on interim maps.