A political party might want a closed primary because it allows them to have more control over who can participate in selecting their party's candidate. In a closed primary, only registered members of the party can vote, which means that the party's members have a greater influence in deciding the nominee. This can help ensure that the party's values and platform are represented by the candidate who ultimately runs in the general election. By limiting participation to party members, a closed primary also helps prevent members of other parties from strategically voting for a weaker candidate in an attempt to influence the outcome. It allows the party to maintain its internal cohesion and protect its ideological integrity.