Fort Worth, Texas – On Tuesday, Nov. 3, voters in Tarrant County will cast ballots to either re‑elect Republican County Judge Tim O’Hare for a second four‑year term or replace him with Democratic County Commissioner Alisa Simmons. The race has become a focal point for residents who want to see continued low taxes, robust public‑safety funding, and accountable county services.
Candidate backgrounds and key issues
Judge O’Hare, who has served on the Commissioners Court since 2023, emphasizes his record of four consecutive years of tax‑rate reductions while providing salary raises for the sheriff’s office. He argues that his leadership keeps the county fiscally responsible and safe for families.
Commissioner Simmons, the first Black woman to run for the county’s top executive since 1986, frames her campaign around “meaningful” tax relief, expanded oversight of the county jail, and greater transparency for residents seeking services. She proposes independent investigations into the rising number of in‑custody deaths and pledges to strengthen county services without raising the tax burden.
Redistricting controversy
The contest follows a high‑profile redistricting effort led by O’Hare last summer. The Republican‑controlled court redrew precinct boundaries, moving voters of color out of Simmons’ Precinct 2 in an attempt to preserve the GOP majority. Critics, including Simmons, called the move a form of racial gerrymandering designed to dilute Democratic‑leaning votes. Two lawsuits challenging the map were dismissed last year, leaving the new boundaries in place for this election.
Election mechanics and early voting
Early voting ran from Oct. 19 to Oct. 30, with nearly 594,000 voters—about 43 % of the county’s 1.37 million registered voters—casting ballots either in person or by mail. Polls open Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at designated sites across the county. The Fort Worth Report’s nonpartisan Tarrant County Voter Guide provides candidate surveys, polling locations, and other essential information for voters.
Primary results and campaign activity
In the March primaries, O’Hare secured the Republican nomination with 117,104 votes (87.6 % of the GOP primary), while Simmons won the Democratic nomination with 105,487 votes (61.35 %) in a three‑way race that also featured former U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey, who withdrew but remained on the ballot.
Both candidates were invited to a public forum hosted by the Fort Worth Report but declined to attend. Simmons submitted a detailed candidate survey; O’Hare chose not to respond.
What’s at stake
If Simmons wins, she would become the first Democratic county judge in Tarrant since 1986 and the first Black judge in the role. However, the Republican majority on the Commissioners Court would likely remain, unless Democrats can retain or flip additional precinct seats despite the new map.
The county judge’s responsibilities include presiding over the Commissioners Court, setting the annual budget and tax rate, and overseeing county administration. The position carries a salary of $237,234.60 per year and serves as the chief political executive for Texas’s largest Republican‑held county.
Community perspective
Local residents have expressed a range of concerns, from public‑safety funding to the fairness of the recent redistricting. Many families appreciate O’Hare’s promise to keep taxes low, while others are drawn to Simmons’ focus on accountability and equitable services.
As the election approaches, both campaigns continue to reach out to voters through door‑to‑door canvassing, mailers, and digital outreach, urging citizens to make their voices heard at the ballot box.
For the latest updates on the race and other Tarrant County elections, visit the Fort Worth Report’s voter guide or contact government‑accountability reporter Cecilia Lenzen at [email protected].
Original reporting: Fort Worth Report — read the source article.
