\u201cThese aren\u2019t minor errors,\u201d Allison Campolo, chair of the Tarrant County Democratic Party, said in a press release. \u201cWe\u2019re talking about petitions that don\u2019t meet basic legal requirements, even though it\u2019s very clear about what is needed for a candidate to appear on the ballot.\u201d<\/p>\n
To run for a judicial position in Tarrant County, candidates must collect at least 250 voters\u2019 signatures<\/a> on a petition in support of their candidacy. In lieu of paying a filing fee, candidates can collect a total of 750 signatures.<\/p>\n Campolo alleged some GOP election applications had altered candidate information, incomplete or missing voter signature information and missing details as well as redacted public information such as signers\u2019 birthdays.<\/p>\n Davis, the GOP chair, said in a statement<\/a> that Republicans received the challenges and are beginning their review.<\/p>\n \u201cFrom the first pass, it appears the Democrats were about as sloppy with their challenge as they were with their original filings,\u201d Davis wrote, adding that he noticed several typos, formatting issues and legal errors in the Democrats\u2019 challenges.\u00a0<\/p>\n The majority of the challenged candidates are running for the 39 judicial and justice of the peace positions in Tarrant County up for grabs in November. One seat has multiple Republican candidates contending, and all but three of those positions are held by Republican incumbents. Democrats have 17 candidates running for those spots.\u00a0<\/p>\n If any of either party\u2019s candidates are removed from the March ballot, leaving them without a November nomination, the parties\u2019 executive committees can select replacement nominees.\u00a0<\/p>\n Those wishing to appear on the November ballot can file as a write-in candidate in races that saw candidates declared ineligible.<\/p>\n If Republicans find the Democrats\u2019 assertions to be true, they are responsible for removing those candidates from the ballot.\u00a0<\/p>\n Candidates deemed ineligible couldn\u2019t refile for election as the deadline was Dec. 8. The deadline to challenge a candidate\u2019s place on the ballot was Jan. 12.<\/p>\n The two Texas House candidates challenged by the Democrats are running for House District 92, the seat held by Rep. Bhojani Salman (D-Euless); and House District 94, held by Rep. Tony Tinderholt (R-Arlington), who isn\u2019t seeking reelection.<\/p>\n Campolo told the Report the move was not made in retaliation to Davis\u2019 challenges last week, as her team planned to look at the GOP\u2019s applications and requested the materials in mid-December.\u00a0<\/p>\n Still, she admitted the Democratic Party\u2019s scrutiny increased after Davis\u2019 challenges.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cTruly, we have him to thank for helping us get so many folks helping us on this,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd we have him to thank for essentially expertly training our volunteers on what to look for in candidate petitions.\u201d<\/p>\n Davis said Democrats appeared to copy language he had used in his challenges. He added that Republicans are \u201chonored to note this is just another area where Democrats have shown they have no original ideas.\u201d<\/p>\n Campolo previously said in a statement that her team was \u201ccarefully\u201d reviewing the Democratic filings that Davis had challenged.<\/p>\n Which Republican candidates did the Tarrant County Democratic Party challenge?<\/p>\n Judicial:<\/p>\n Deborah \u201cDebbie\u201d Adame<\/a>, candidate for the 231st District Court Texas House:<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Allison-Campolo-e1751983190502-1024x683.jpg\")
Allison Campolo, right, takes a selfie with Crystal Gayden, then-chair of the Tarrant County Democratic Party, in 2023. Campolo preceded Gayden as party chair and returned to the seat after Gayden’s resignation. (Courtesy photo | Allison Campolo)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Public-comment-J6-3--e1767992750391-1024x682.jpg\")
Tarrant County Republican Chairman Tim Davis speaks at a county GOP executive committee meeting on Jan. 8, 2026, in Fort Worth. (Drew Shaw | Fort Worth Report)<\/p>\n
\nDoug Allen<\/a>, candidate for Tarrant County Criminal District Court No. 3
\nKatherine Allen<\/a>, candidate for the 324th District Court
\nAmy Allin<\/a>, candidate for the 297th District Court
\nLeslie Barrows<\/a>, candidate for the 231st District Court
\nNorma Bazan<\/a>, candidate for Tarrant County Criminal Court No. 4
\nBrook Bell, candidate for Tarrant County Probate Court No. 2
\nBrian Bolton<\/a>, candidate for Tarrant County Criminal Court No. 9
\nBill Brandt<\/a>, candidate for Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3
\nPatricia Burns<\/a>, candidate for Tarrant County Probate Court No. 1
\nJason Charbonnet<\/a>, candidate for Justice of the Peace, Precinct 6
\nJohn Chupp<\/a>, candidate for the 141st District Court
\nBrad Clark<\/a>, candidate for Tarrant County Criminal Court No. 5
\nDavid Cook<\/a>, candidate for Tarrant County Criminal Court No. 1
\nMary Curnutt<\/a>, candidate for Justice of the Peace, Precinct 2
\nRashelle Fetty<\/a>, candidate for the 231st District Court
\nDusty Fillmore<\/a>, candidate for the 236th District Court
\nChristopher Gregory<\/a>, candidate for Justice of the Peace, Precinct 4
\nRandi Hartin<\/a>, candidate for Tarrant County Criminal Court No. 6
\nRyan Hill<\/a>, candidate for the 371st District Court
\nMike Hrabal<\/a>, candidate for Tarrant County Court at Law No. 3
\nAn Lee \u201cAndy\u201d Hsu<\/a>, candidate for the 324th District Court
\nSteven Jumes<\/a>, candidate for the 323rd District Court
\nAlexander Kim<\/a>, candidate for the 323rd District Court
\nTrent Loftin<\/a>, candidate for Tarrant County Criminal Court No. 10
\nJulie Lugo,<\/a> candidate for the 372nd District Court
\nBob McCoy, candidate for Tarrant County Criminal Court No. 3
\nJames Munford<\/a>, candidate for the 322nd District Court
\nDeborah Nekhom<\/a>, candidate for Tarrant County Criminal Court No. 4
\nKenneth Newell<\/a>, candidate for the 233rd District Court
\nPaige Payne-Neal<\/a>, candidate for Justice of the Peace, Precinct 7
\nDon Pierson<\/a>, candidate for Tarrant County Court at Law No. 1
\nAndy Porter<\/a>, candidate for Tarrant County Criminal District Court No. 4
\nRicky Rodriguez<\/a>, candidate for Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1
\nJennifer Rymell<\/a>, candidate for Tarrant County Court at Law No. 2
\nLee Sorrells<\/a>, candidate for the 432nd District Court
\nEric Starnes<\/a>, candidate for Tarrant County Court at Law No. 2
\nCynthia Terry<\/a>, candidate for the 325th District Court
\nCharles Vanover<\/a>, candidate for Tarrant County Criminal Court No. 8
\nSherri Wagner<\/a>, candidate for Tarrant County Criminal District Court No. 1
\nCarey Walker<\/a>, candidate for Tarrant County Criminal District Court No. 2<\/p>\n