Tarrant County Judge election: Simmons wins 56% to end 40-year Republican hold

Residents of Tarrant County will see expanded access to public government meetings starting next year. Alisa Simmons, the newly elected Tarrant County Judge, plans to restore two monthly meetings for the Commissioners Court and increase the time allotted for public comment from one minute to three minutes.

Simmons defeated Republican incumbent Tim O'Hare on November 3. She secured 56% of the vote with 402,291 total ballots, while O'Hare received 44% with 311,040 votes. This result ends a 40-year streak of Republican control over the position. It also marks the first time a woman or a Black person has served as Tarrant County Judge.

The election shifted the balance of power on the Commissioners Court. Other Democratic victories in the 2026 cycle moved the court from a 3-2 Republican majority to a 4-1 Democratic majority. Simmons cited this new dynamic as a chance to focus on policy rather than partisan conflict.

Simmons stated her primary goal is to increase transparency after a series of contentious sessions in August and September. Those meetings featured disputes over polling site reductions, leading to several citizens being removed and a lawsuit filed by former state representative Lon Burnham against O'Hare. Simmons promised that elected officials will appear more welcoming to the public.

The incoming judge is already reviewing the county's financial status. She described the fiscal health of the county as weaker than public narratives suggest. Her administration will also conduct an in-depth review of recent deaths at the Tarrant County Jail. Additionally, she plans to examine access to behavioral and mental health services within the county.

Simmons takes office on January 1, 2027. She noted that partisanship has distracted the court from governance and expressed a desire to begin making improvements immediately upon assuming the role.