South Carolina GOP sues to make primaries closed to non‑registered Republicans

The South Carolina Republican Party has filed a lawsuit seeking to shut down the state’s open primary system, arguing that it dilutes the party’s control over its own nomination process. The suit, filed in the state’s circuit court, requests that the courts order the Republican primary to be limited to voters who are officially registered as Republicans, a change that would mirror the closed‑primary rules adopted by several other states.

South Carolina’s current electoral framework does not require voters to declare a party affiliation before casting a ballot. Under the open‑primary model, any registered voter may participate in the Republican primary, a practice the GOP says undermines its ability to select candidates that reflect the party’s platform. The lawsuit follows a broader national trend in which Republican parties in states such as Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas have pursued similar restrictions, citing concerns over “party infiltration” and the integrity of the nomination process.

If the court grants the party’s request, the change would be implemented for the next election cycle, potentially reshaping the competitive landscape for Republican candidates in the Palmetto State. The lawsuit is part of a long‑running effort by the South Carolina GOP to tighten its internal candidate selection, and the outcome will likely influence future debates over voter registration and primary access across the region.