In Texas, why were primary elections more important than general elections during most of the twentieth century?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Texas was a one-party state for most of the twentieth century, with the Democratic Party dominating state politics. In such a political environment, the winner of the primary election, which was more fiercely contested among candidates of the same party, was almost guaranteed to win the general election. As a result, primary elections were often more important than the general election in determining who held political power in the state.

In Texas, Why Were Primary Elections More Important Than General