AUSTIN, Texas (AP) – Texas’ Democratic presidential primary is set to shift to allocating delegates based solely on voting results, after national party leaders rejected the state’s traditional “Two-Step” method.
America’s second-largest state votes March 1 as part of the 2016 presidential election’s “Super Tuesday.” Its likely 250-plus delegates will be that day’s big prize.
In previous cycles, two-thirds of Texas’ Democratic presidential delegates were awarded among candidates based on primary results. The rest were selected by post-Election Day caucuses.
But high 2008 caucus turnout allowed Barack Obama to take more Texas Democratic presidential delegates than Hillary Clinton, despite Clinton winning the primary election.
Texas sought a Democratic National Committee waiver to continue the two-step method, but was denied last week.
The new, straightforward system will be submitted for national party approval next week.