What are primary elections and how do they operate in Texas to nominate candidates of the major political parties? What patterns describe voter participation in primaries, and why does it matter?

What will be an ideal response?

Answer: An ideal response will:
1. Define primary elections.
2. Explain rules governing primaries in Texas, including what parties must use them to nominate candidates, the timing of primaries, eligibility to participate in primaries, and provisions for runoff elections.
3. Explain that primaries have lower participation rates than general elections and that runoff elections have even lower turnout than first-round primaries.
4. Explain that primary voters tend to be more ideological than the general public.
5. Explain that primaries may produce more extreme candidates.