Republican Tarrant County Judge Tim O’Hare spoke at a True Texas Project event Sept. 14, 2026 to say if the party wants to keep the top seat in the county red, they have to work.
Rachel Royster
rroyster@star-telegram.com
Republican County Judge Tim O’Hare told True Texas Project members Monday night that if Tarrant County doesn’t vote red in November, the county will see more crime, more homelessness and raised taxes.
“This county is special,” O’Hare told the crowd of about 80. “This county is different, but we are in a battle this time. If we go into this the same way we do every election, we very well may not come out on top.”
O’Hare is the incumbent in the November election for Tarrant County Judge. His opponent is Democratic Commissioner Alisa Simmons, who told the Star-Telegram in a statement she is running to govern the county with competent, responsible leadership.
O’Hare’s site says he aims to lower taxes, cut spending and maintain a smarter government.
In the four years since he was first elected to the post, O’Hare has led the charge to lower county and the hospital district property taxes each year, reduce both budgets annually, implement a county-wide homestead exemption and give law enforcement officers raises.
O’Hare also proposed the county’s redistricting effort that created a new precinct map that nearly promises Republicans a majority on commissioners court.
“My opponent has voted against property tax cuts 14 times,” O’Hare said. “My opponent voted against a resolution honoring the Alamo. My opponent voted against a resolution honoring America’s 250th. My opponent voted against bulletproof vests for law enforcement, could you be more anti-police than that?”
Crime, homelessness and fiscal instability are challenges Tarrant County is facing today because of O’Hare’s leadership, Simmons said in a responding statement.
“Instead of defending his record, he is trying to frighten voters with dishonest claims about mine,” Simmons’s statement said. I have supported responsible tax relief, fought to protect essential healthcare and mental health services, demanded accountability in our jail and championed real solutions to housing insecurity. . .”
A few moments into the 40-minute talk, two dissenters stood up bashing the Republican for voting to close roughly 30% of the Election Day polling locations for the November midterm. They were swiftly removed from the meeting as O’Hare said not to pay them any mind.
“This is how they act in commissioners’ court every single meeting,” O’Hare said. “They want the attention, and the reason they want the attention is because they have no earthly idea how to govern. They have no plans on how to govern. They couldn’t cut your taxes if you drew them a road map and said, ‘Here, just press A, B and C.’ They have no plan for what to do other than create chaos.”
If Simmons wins the seat, O’Hare said Tarrant County will have more crime, more homelessness and higher property taxes. He said Simmons has no idea how to handle the budget.
“She still struggles with simple things like not understanding how the no-new-revenue rate can’t be determined a year in advance,” he said. “She doesn’t understand it. She keeps asking about it. She doesn’t understand.”
The no new revenue rate is the tax rate that would generate the same amount of property tax revenue from existing properties as the prior year. It is set after the appraisal district finishes updating the certified appraisal roll in late July or early August.
Later on, O’Hare addressed the polling location issue, saying the list of sites from the 2022 midterm election gave the largely Democratic southwest precinct almost 15 more voting sites than a staunchly Republican northeast precinct. Simmons said the decision was an effort to suppress Black and Latino voters.
By cutting 93 Election Day polling locations, the cost was cut by roughly $418,500.
O’Hare told the group if they want to keep Tarrant County Republican, they need to act.
“We are sounding the alarm,” O’Hare said. “Don’t let it happen. We can control what happens. If we all work, we will win. If we don’t, we’re probably going to lose.”
This story was originally published September 14, 2026 at 9:18 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.