On March 5, the Oklahoma House Rules Committee passed HB 2425. It moves the non-presidential primary from June to early March. The presidential primary would then be combined with the primary for other offices. This is a drastic change. Because the date of the non-presidential primary is tied to the deadlines for new parties and non-presidential independent candidates. The petition for a new party would be due in November of the year before the election, and the deadline for non-presidential independents (who don’t need a petition) would be close to New Year’s Day of the election year.