FORT WORTH, Texas – After voters in Tarrant County elected Democrats to every countywide office in the recent midterm, a coalition of local Republicans issued an open letter demanding new leadership for the county party. The letter, organized by former Southlake Mayor John Huffman, was signed by 16 Republicans who have served as mayors, state representatives, school board members and precinct chairs.

Letter cites broken trust and calls for “conservative” candidates

The signatories argue that while Tarrant voters still support conservative policies, they are tired of a Republican Party that they feel has taken them for granted. “When a lifelong Republican does not feel welcome in their own party, because I fought for my school district, something’s wrong there,” said Chelsea Kelly, a Keller school board member and co‑signer of the letter.

Kelly added that the party’s culture has been “diminishing and deteriorating” over the past two years and that new leadership is essential to restore a welcoming environment for true conservatives.

Internal divisions and calls for inclusivity

The letter also references a contentious split within the county GOP in early 2025, when Tim Davis, then chair of the Tarrant County Republican Party, faced criticism for his handling of a school‑board attorney dispute. Davis, who was elected chair in November 2025, has been cited by several signatories as a focal point of the party’s recent turmoil.

“That is kind of the linchpin of when things started to go sideways with the Republican Party as far as leadership and a culture of division,” Kelly explained, emphasizing the need for a leadership style that embraces a broader range of conservative voices.

Critics of the letter and the Trump factor

James Baldwin, co‑signer and chair of the Fort Worth Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee, dismissed accusations that the county’s flip was driven by opposition to President Donald Trump. “A lot of what happened, it’s not because of Donald Trump,” Baldwin said. He added that his vote was motivated by dissatisfaction with state officials such as Attorney General Ken Paxton and Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, not by any single national figure.

Political science professor Brandon Rottinghaus of the University of Houston cautioned that it is too early to label Tarrant County definitively “blue,” noting that the national leftward swing may have amplified local dynamics.

Calls for character‑driven candidates

Huffman stressed that the county remains right‑of‑center and that the GOP must focus on nominating men and women of character, high competence, and clear articulation of conservative values. “We need to focus on nominating people who can impact voters’ lives positively,” he said.

Bill Finstad, a precinct chair and co‑signer, warned that the party has been pushing “harder and harder to the extreme right,” and urged a centrist approach to win back independents and moderate conservatives.

Election results and future outlook

Democrats won all statewide races in Texas and captured every countywide office in Tarrant, including County Judge Tim O’Hare, who lost to Democratic challenger Alisa Simmons by 13 percentage points. The margins were double‑digit in most races, underscoring the depth of the shift.

While the letter has attracted 16 signatories, several prominent Republicans, including Judge O’Hare and Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker, have not joined. Huffman invited additional Republicans to add their names, emphasizing that a united, principled front is needed to restore confidence among voters.

What comes next?

The signatories hope the letter will spark a serious conversation within the Tarrant County GOP about leadership, culture and strategy. As Baldwin put it, “When you add people to your party, you win. When you exclude people for not believing everything a single leader says, you lose.”

With the county’s political future still in flux, local conservatives are watching closely to see whether new leadership can steer the party back toward the values that have long defined Tarrant County’s electorate.

Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.