Democrats doubt April primary date

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — The Texas Democratic Party and minority groups suing the state over voting maps say they're newly doubtful that an April 3 primary date can be salvaged.

A federal court in Washington on Wednesday advised that a ruling over whether the Republican-drawn maps violate the Voting Right Acts likely won't be made for at least a month. That left Democrats skeptical of there being enough time to preserve the April date.

Minority groups and the Texas attorney general's office are negotiating in hopes of compromising on temporary maps by a Monday deadline. If they don't, the Texas primary will be pushed back for a second time.

The Texas Democratic Party stated in a filing Wednesday that it wouldn't oppose a split primary if the state shouldered the extra cost.