A recent UT Austin poll reported Talarico leading Paxton by three points in the Senate race.
Austin Wood
Standing outside of a former polling place at the University of Texas at Arlington’s Maverick Activities Center Sunday, Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico said he was fighting for voters as he criticized a plan to reduce voting locations in Tarrant County.
Talarico, who is in the midst of a closely contested Senate race against Republican state Attorney General Ken Paxton, was joined by Tarrant County Commissioner Alisa Simmons for the press conference. Both Democratic politicians said a plan to cut 92 Election Day locations in Tarrant County hurts access for residents, especially in already underserved areas, and called on residents to speak out.
The current plan, to be deliberated by the commissioners court this week, includes 224 Election Day polling sites and 47 early voting locations. It’s an improvement from an earlier proposal to operate 176 Election Day polling sites and 42 early voting locations, but still a marked decrease from the 2022 midterm elections, when there were 316 Election Day polling places.
“There will be longer commutes, longer lines, and lower voter turnout, especially in our black and brown communities,” Talarico said. “People in power don’t want us to know or use our power, and nothing terrifies them more than people who show up to vote and people who show up to hold elected officials accountable.”
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Tensions in Tarrant County
Supported by the Republican majority on the court, the plan comes as Tarrant County experiences rapid population growth, becoming the state’s third-most populous county. It also comes as the once-GOP stronghold trends toward a toss-up, making Tarrant County a key battleground ahead of what is expected to be a tough midterm cycle for Republicans. Taylor Rehmet, a Democrat, won a shock victory in February to flip a Fort Worth state Senate seat blue for the first time in over three decades.
Tarrant County Republicans have been actively reevaluating election procedures as voting trends turn purple and midterms draw closer. In April 2025, the commissioners court voted to approve a redistricting map that watchdogs warned would disenfranchise minority voters and heavily favor GOP officials.
Before voting with the rest of the commissioners to table approval of the first proposal, County Judge Tim O’Hare, a Republican, told residents he did not support the reduction of polling places to that degree. He has since argued that some cuts are necessary because of new state regulations on polling places and the need to use taxpayer dollars efficiently.
“We’re not just fighting for the voting rights of Democrats; we’re fighting for the voting rights of Independents and Republicans too,” Talarico said. “I’m fighting for the rights of people who are going to show up and vote against me on election day, because that’s what we do in this country.”
The proposed cuts still exceed the statutory minimum for polling locations in the state, but Simmons said they’re not enough and don’t make sense given the arguments offered for redistricting last year.
“The minimum is never my standard, and it should not be a standard for a county this size. If you redistricted on the basis that this county is growing, the population is growing,” Simmons said. “If that is your premise, why are you slashing the number of election voting centers for your constituents?”
Simmons, who is running against O’Hare for the county judge’s seat, said the proposal would require residents to shuffle transportation plans, daycare arrangements and their workdays, ultimately making it harder for voters to get to the polls. She also advocated adding the former polling location at UTA to the list, saying it has provided access for elderly residents, college students, and veterans. O’Hare and the Republican majority have previously targeted early voting on college campuses and voted to cut funding for bus service to polling locations in 2024.
‘You need to speak up’
The proposal, Simmons warned, would also target low-income communities disproportionately. She called on residents to make their voices heard by contacting their commissioners or attending Tuesday’s court meeting, despite what some have described as an atmosphere of “disrespect” toward residents at meetings. At the early August meeting in which cuts were first proposed, O’Hare ordered the courtroom cleared and had several public speakers removed, including former State Rep. Lon Burnham. The court has previously limited public comment times and reduced meeting frequency to once a month.
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Simmons said the GOP-led measures have sent a message to residents that some of their elected officials “are not interested in hearing what they have to say.” Still, she called on residents to speak up ahead of the vote.
“I want you to know before Tuesday, you need to speak up,” she said. “Let your commissioners court members know that you are watching, you are listening, and let us all know which way you want us to go.”
The court will deliberate the proposal at a 10 a.m. meeting at the Tarrant County Courthouse.
“This is not a minor issue,” Simmons said. “This is a significant reduction in vote access in one of the largest counties in Texas.”