A federal judge on Friday afternoon paused a bid by Texas Republicans to restrict participation in the GOP's primary elections to voters registered with the party.

While Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, a U.S. district judge based in Amarillo, stopped the effort, he wrote in his order that he expects the state's Republican Party to succeed in closing its primaries during the upcoming Legislative Session.

"Prominent Texas politicians support similar legislative action," Kacsmaryk wrote, later adding that his decision to put the lawsuit on hold is "because the Texas Legislature may soon amend the law challenged here." A year ago, the Republican Party of Texas sued then-Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson, challenging her to limit eligible Republican voters during primary elections.