Although the Texas House of Representatives passed the bill to move the primary from March to February overwhelmingly, the bill’s prospects in the Senate are shaky. Many Senators are uncomfortable with having the primary for state office, and for Congress, as early as February. The bill is HB 2017.

Texas is free to have an early presidential primary, and a later primary for other office. Approximately half the states follow this pattern. But, that idea doesn’t seem to be circulating in Texas.