Election Question Answered: Can Precinct Chairs Endorse Candidates?

A 2022 Potter County Republican Executive Committee meeting/Photo by the Potter County GOP

Questions have recently popped up about whether Republican precinct chairs may endorse candidates in contested primary elections. As it turns out, the state party rules do not prohibit precinct chairs from taking a position in a primary race.

According to State Republican Executive Committeewoman Tisha Crow, precinct chairs often take positions in contested primaries and are allowed to publicly endorse and support their preferred candidates.

“Precinct chairs can absolutely endorse candidates,” Crow said.

Crow added that the one exception to the rule is that some county parties will explicitly prohibit their precinct chairs from endorsing candidates. According to local party leaders, Amarillo area precinct chairs are not prohibited from making endorsements.

“Our bylaws don’t say anything about precinct chairs not being able to endorse,” Potter County GOP Chairman Dan Rogers said. Rogers went on to add, “In the primary election, it’s the party’s election where we are choosing our nominees. Precinct chairs often can and do endorse. The party doesn’t endorse. There’s nothing prohibiting us in the state party rules where we can’t endorse.”

Randall County GOP Chairman Kelly Giles also confirmed via text message that precinct chairs and county chairs are allowed to endorse any candidates they prefer under the Randall County bylaws.

This election cycle, a number of legislative candidates and local candidates have already earned precinct chair endorsements from across both counties. Perhaps the candidate with the most precinct chair endorsements in this election cycle is House District 86 candidate Jamie Haynes, who has been endorsed by 11 precinct chairs from Randall County and three from Potter County.