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Rep. Wesley Hunt, R-Texas, left, greets Allen West, chair of the Dallas County Republican Party, as he arrives at the party’s headquarters to attend a meet and greet event to kick off early voting in the U.S. Senate Republican primary, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026, in Dallas .<\/p>\n
Chitose Suzuki\/Staff Photographer<\/p>\n
With Dallas County GOP Chair Allen West\u2019s resignation, party leaders still want to overturn his decision to allow countywide voting in the May 26 runoff and reinstate precinct-based voting for all voters. But Dallas County\u2019s elections chief has already said there is not enough time to do that.<\/p>\n
After thousands were turned away at polls on March 3 due to confusion tied to precinct-based voting forced by Republicans, West amended the party\u2019s contract with the elections department to let voters cast ballots at any vote center, regardless of address.<\/p>\n
West said he did so to protect the party from potential litigation, but the unilateral action was counter to a vote 200 members of his executive committee took last year to use precinct-based voting for the 2026 primary cycle \u2013 and set off fury that led to calls for his ouster.<\/p>\n
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West stepped down Wednesday, days before a planned vote by the committee to call for his resignation over backlash to his handling of runoff voting.<\/p>\n
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Members of the county Republican Party\u2019s executive committee say the amendment signed by West without their authorization is invalid and precinct-based voting should stand for the runoff for federal, state and local offices.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Precinct Chair Stan Woodward told The Dallas Morning News last week party members \u201care evaluating all legal options\u201d to require the county to honor the original contract for precinct-based voting.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re over there operating with essentially an illegal contract,\u201d\u00a0Woodward said. \u201cThat\u2019s why we are looking to have this reversed in any way.\u201d<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n Add Preferred Source<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Dallas County Elections Administrator Paul Adams has said there is not enough time before runoff voting begins to change the contract again.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n He said he would be moving forward with the amended contract in hand. Adams did not respond to a request for comment on Thursday.\u00a0<\/p>\n Election timing<\/p>\n But there is some similar precedent on this issue.\u00a0<\/p>\n In February 2024 Judge Dib Waldrip denied a temporary restraining order sought by members of the Williamson County Republican Party\u2019s executive committee. They alleged the party chair executed an invalid contract after omitting security measures they had requested.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n In his order, Waldrip said the court can entertain election disputes \u201cwhen sufficient time remains to properly resolve the matter both at trial and on appeal, all the while, avoiding interference with an election process.\u201d<\/p>\n He cited a previous Texas Supreme Court conclusion that there was insufficient time to resolve a dispute once an election was underway, and no amount of judiciary expediency would avoid disruption of that process. <\/p>\n Waldrip also noted the U.S. Supreme Court\u2019s finding that \u201cthe risk of voter confusion increases as an election draws nearer,\u201d adding his court had \u201cno discretion\u201d to rule against established federal or state precedent.<\/p>\n With just weeks until early voting in the May 26 runoff begins, Adams told county officials earlier this month he contract could not be changed in time.<\/p>\n “What happened in the last election is proof that we do not want any last-minute changes,” Adams said, referring to widespread voter confusion..<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Who decides?<\/p>\n One day before West signed the contract amendment with the county, Woodward emailed Adams and said the executive committee did not vote to amend the contract and the current contract remained in place.\u00a0<\/p>\n He cited a Texas election code section that states county election officers contract with a county party\u2019s executive committee to perform election services.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI would caution you not to enter into any amendment to the contract without the express approval of the CEC enacted through a vote by that body,\u201d Woodward wrote, according to the email.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n After West signed the amendment, 64 precinct chairs submitted a letter March 29 demanding he reverse the action and resign as chair. West responded with one sentence, saying his decision stood and he would not step down.<\/p>\n By signing up, you agree to our Terms Of Use<\/a> and acknowledge that your information will be used as described in our Privacy Policy<\/a>.<\/p>\n One week later, amid the pushback, West announced he arranged for a vote to decide his removal during the executive committee\u2019s regular meeting on Monday. Before that could occur, West submitted his resignation on Wednesday.\u00a0<\/p>\n Vice Chair Tami Brown Rodriquez issued a statement late Wednesday as acting chair thanking West for his \u201cexemplary leadership, steadfast dedication and unwavering commitment to election integrity and security.\u201d<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n \u201cHis service has played a significant role in advancing the Republican Party in Dallas County to where we stand today,\u201d she said\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Rep. 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