Democrat Commissioner Alisa Simmons and Republican incumbent Tim O’Hare are opponents in the race for Tarrant County judge. Election Day is Nov. 3, 2026.
Fort Worth Star-Telegram archives
A mystery poll showing the historically-red Senate District 9 voting blue in key races this November has become campaign fundraising fodder in the Tarrant County judge race.
The candidates are warning against — or promoting — what could be a competitive election cycle in the red county that occasionally tips blue, and using the poll of unknown origins as a basis for their arguments as they urge voters to open their pocketbooks.
The poll was published by Quorum Report, a respected outlet for Texas politics, without saying who exactly conducted the poll — beyond “a reputable Republican pollster” — or what the methodology was. It shows 600 likely Senate District 9 voters preferring Democrats by a noteworthy margin in races for state Senate District 9, U.S. Senate, governor, lieutenant governor and Tarrant County judge.
That district elected President Donald Trump in 2024 by a 17-point margin, then it flipped blue to choose Democrat Taylor Rehmet over Republican Leigh Wambsganss in a February special election for a partial term in the Texas Legislature. The Democratic’s 14-point win shocked the country because of the Senate district’s deep-red roots.
Now, this poll shows Rehmet winning a full term in the Texas Senate. It also has Democratic nominees James Talarico, Gina Hinojosa, Vikki Goodwin and Alisa Simmons joining him in flipping seats that have been ruby red for over three decades.
Texas last elected a Democrat statewide in 1994; Tarrant County hasn’t had a Democrat in the county judge seat since 1986.
Simmons and Republican incumbent Tim O’Hare have both seen the polling for their Tarrant County judge race and spread the news to their supporters with a plea for more dollars.
O’Hare, who recently sounded the alarm at a True Texas Project meeting, said in a campaign email that if Republicans are behind in his race, “every corner of Tarrant County is in play.”
The email said if Simmons wins the race as the poll says, she will raise taxes and wipe away support for the sheriff and law enforcement.
Simmons’ post on X said the polling shows Tarrant voters refuse to keep supporting Republicans, who she says are “taking away our rights, starting culture wars and tanking the economy without consequence.”
Both candidates said in their messages that the only way to ensure their preferred outcome is for supporters to pour money into the campaign.
Government reporter Eleanor Dearman contributed this reporting.
This story was originally published September 29, 2026 at 2:37 PM.
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Rachel Royster is a news and government reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, specifically focused on Tarrant County. She joined the newsroom after interning at the Austin American-Statesman, the Waco Tribune-Herald and Capital Community News in DC. A Houston native and Baylor grad, Rachel enjoys traveling, reading and being outside. She welcomes any and all news tips to her email.
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Eleanor (Elly) Dearman is a Texas politics and government reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. She’s based in Austin, covering the Legislature and its impact on North Texas. She grew up in Denton and has been a reporter for more than six years.
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