DALLAS — Republicans on Tuesday — and to a lesser degree Democrats — were on the path to nominating candidates on the edges of the Texas electorate, which could lead to more ultra-conservative policy decisions and voters in the political middle without clout.
“It makes it all the more difficult for compromises to be made in legislatures and for policies that are closer to the preferences of the average American voter,” said Rice political scientist Mark Jones. “The preferences of the extremes on each side tend to get better represented in our legislature and executive branches than do the positions of the majority in the center.”
Since Republicans are in power, their primaries are more critical in formulating statewide public policy. But moderate Democrats are trying to make sure that their away-from-center candidates don’t impact the struggle to climb back into power.
