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Cornyn: Texas's April Primary Likely Faces Delay

AUSTIN (AP) – U.S. Sen. John Cornyn says he doesn't expect the Texas primary to be held on April 3 and calls the potential delay "not desirable."

The Texas Republican said Monday he believed a later primary date was likely considering that the U.S. Supreme Court had yet to rule on a dispute over the state's redrawn voting maps.

Minority groups say redistricting maps drawn by the Republican-dominated Texas Legislature last year diluted their voting power, and the Justice Department hasn't given required federal approval. The Supreme Court is considering the state's challenge to federally drawn interim maps.

Cornyn says the high court should respect the Legislature-drawn maps.

Once redistricting is settled, officials need 45 days to mail absentee ballots. The primary is supposed to be held before state party conventions in June.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

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