Allen West resigns as Dallas County GOP chair

Allen West has stepped down as chair of the Dallas County Republican Party, according to officials with the Dallas County Elections Department, marking the end of a leadership period defined by internal disagreements over election administration. His resignation was reported Wednesday after he notified county election officials earlier in the day.

West’s departure comes after months of debate within the local Republican Party over how elections should be conducted, especially ahead of the May 26 runoff election. Earlier in March, West supported the use of countywide polling locations for the runoff, reversing positions held by some party members who favored precinct-based voting systems.

That decision followed a turbulent March 3 primary election in which the party initially considered hand counting ballots but abandoned the idea due to staffing limitations. The primary ultimately used precinct-based polling locations rather than countywide vote centers. The change led to widespread confusion, with more than 12,000 voters arriving at incorrect polling sites across Dallas County, affecting both Republican and Democratic voters.

Although the earlier Election Day disruptions drew significant attention, election officials indicated that West’s resignation was not directly connected to those issues. Instead, it came after continued disagreement within the party over whether to maintain precinct-based voting or return to countywide voting for the runoff election.

In public statements made in March and later in an early April blog post, West argued that switching voting systems between closely scheduled elections risked voter confusion and could create significant logistical challenges. He also raised concerns that such changes could expose the party to legal challenges alleging voter disenfranchisement. West, a former member of Congress and Army veteran, framed his position as a matter of organizational responsibility and risk management.

West had previously supported ending the countywide polling place system, which allows voters to cast ballots at any polling location within their county and has been used in Texas for more than two decades. State election officials say the system can reduce administrative costs by consolidating polling sites and limiting staffing needs, while maintaining security measures designed to prevent multiple voting.

Some Republican activists in Texas have advocated replacing countywide voting with precinct-based systems and, in some cases, replacing electronic vote counting with hand tabulation. These proposals gained increased attention following the 2020 election cycle. Election officials maintain that current systems include safeguards intended to prevent fraud while preserving both voter access and administrative efficiency in large and growing counties such as Dallas County.