Who is running in Tarrant County, Texas in 2026
- County Judge
- Alisa Simmons and Tim O'Hare
- County Commissioner, Precinct 2
- Jared Williams and Tony Tinderholt
- County Commissioner, Precinct 4
- Nydia Cardenas and Manny Ramirez
- Criminal District Attorney
- Tiffany Burks and Phil Sorrells
- County Clerk
- Lydia Bean and Mary Louise Nicholson
- District Clerk
- Nathan Smith and Tom Wilder
- Keller ISD Trustee, Place 4
- Rachel Weatherington and Geramie Parrish
- Keller ISD Trustee, Place 5
- Andrew Walsh, Colin Hodges and Chris Coker
- Keller ISD Trustee, Place 6 (unexpired term)
- Tommie Johnson and Barbara Brewer
- Benbrook City Council, Place 4
- Greg Clem and Dustin Phillips
- Benbrook City Council, Place 6
- Whitney Hughes and Laura Mackey
- U.S. Senator
- James Talarico and Ken Paxton
- Governor
- Gina Hinojosa and Greg Abbott
- Lieutenant Governor
- Vikki Goodwin and Dan Patrick
- Attorney General
- Nathan Johnson and Mayes Middleton
- U.S. Representative, District 6
- Danny Minton and Jake Ellzey
- U.S. Representative, District 12
- Angela "Heli" Rodriguez Prilliman and Craig Goldman
- U.S. Representative, District 24
- Kevin Burge and Beth Van Duyne
- U.S. Representative, District 25
- Dione Sims and Roger Williams
- U.S. Representative, District 30
- Frederick D. Haynes III and Everett Jackson
- State Senator, District 9
- Taylor Rehmet and Leigh Wambsganss
- State Senator, District 22
- Amy Martinez-Salas and David Cook
- State Representative, District 91
- Yisak Worku and David Lowe
- State Representative, District 92
- Salman Bhojani and JP Woodruff
- State Representative, District 93
- Alan Blaylock and Ericka Lomick
- State Representative, District 94
- Katie O'Brien Duzan and Cheryl Bean
- State Representative, District 96
- Ebony M. Turner and Ellen Fleischmann
- State Representative, District 97
- Beth Llewellyn McLaughlin and John W. McQueeney
- State Representative, District 98
- Cate Brennan and Armin Mizani
- State Representative, District 99
- Michelle Winder and Charlie Geren
Tarrant County
These races are partisan. The county judge and four commissioners run the county jail budget, roads and elections. Since 2023 the Republican majority has redrawn commissioner precincts mid-decade and cut Election Day polling places, and deaths in the county jail have been a running fight.
County Judge
Vote for oneO'Hare is seeking a second term. Simmons gives up her Precinct 2 commissioner seat to run.
Alisa Simmons
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) DemocratOn the court she voted against cutting 92 Election Day polling places and has pushed for independent investigations of deaths in the county jail. Endorsed by EMILY's List and Reps. Marc Veasey and Jasmine Crockett.
Sources: Wikipedia, EMILY's List, Campaign site
Tim O'Hare
Not good people RepublicanWon with Trump's backing, then set up an election integrity task force with the sheriff and said denying the 2020 result was "not an automatic disqualifier" for the county's elections chief. A judge threw out a 2026 petition to remove him over having former Rep. Lon Burnam arrested at a court meeting.
Sources: Texas Tribune, Wikipedia, FOX 4
County Commissioner, Precinct 2
Vote for oneOpen seat, held by Democrat Alisa Simmons, who is running for county judge.
Jared Williams
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) DemocratWants the commissioners court to take closer oversight of the county jail after in-custody deaths. Endorsed by Commissioner Alisa Simmons, the Star-Telegram editorial board, SEIU Texas and the Texas Working Families Party.
Sources: Branch, Campaign site
Tony Tinderholt
Not good people RepublicanIn 2017 he filed a bill to make abortion a crime from conception that would have let prosecutors bring homicide charges against patients. Endorsed by Sheriff Bill Waybourn, Texans for Fiscal Responsibility and the Young Conservatives of Texas.
Sources: Texas Tribune, Campaign site
County Commissioner, Precinct 4
Vote for oneNydia Cardenas
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) DemocratOrganized 817 Gather, a monthly Fort Worth coalition that fought the court's mid-decade redistricting. Endorsed by Run for Something.
Sources: Texas Observer, Run for Something
Manny Ramirez
Compromised RepublicanSpent 15 years with Fort Worth police and led its police union. Voted with the Republican majority in June 2025 to adopt the contested new precinct map.
Sources: Tarrant County, Texas Observer
Criminal District Attorney
Vote for oneTiffany Burks
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) DemocratSpent two decades as a Tarrant County prosecutor and has pledged to drop the county's appeal in the Crystal Mason illegal-voting case. Endorsed by Annie's List and Rep. Marc Veasey.
Sources: Campaign site, Bolts, Endorsements
Phil Sorrells
Not good people RepublicanEndorsed by Trump, the True Texas Project and several police unions. Kept appealing Crystal Mason's illegal-voting case after her conviction was overturned in 2024.
Sources: Endorsements, Bolts
County Clerk
Vote for oneLydia Bean
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) DemocratHelped organize the 2024 testimony that got commissioners to cancel a private jail contract, and is running against the $26 million spent on a failed county database. Endorsed by the North Texas Area Labor Federation AFL-CIO.
Sources: Campaign site, Endorsements
Mary Louise Nicholson
Compromised RepublicanHas modernized the office, putting certified records online and winning a 2024 award for using AI to clear filing backlogs. Her endorsers include the True Texas Project, the Tarrant County Patriots PAC and the Realtors' PAC.
Sources: Tyler Technologies, Ballotpedia, Texas Realtors
District Clerk
Vote for oneNathan Smith
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) DemocratWants the clerk's office to staff jail magistration 24 hours a day, every day, which he calls a matter of life and death given deaths in the jail. Endorsed by the Tarrant County Young Democrats.
Sources: Campaign site, Ballotpedia
Tom Wilder
Not enough info RepublicanHas held the office for over 30 years. We found little on how he has run it.
Sources: Tarrant County
Contested judges and justices of the peace
Not profiledContested: District Judge 213th, unexpired (Michael Ferry, R; Arthurine "Anhthu" Kamphaus, D), 231st (Leslie Barrows, R; Lyndsay Newell, D), 236th (Dusty Fillmore, R; Katherine "Kate" Kim, D), 297th (Amy Allin, R; Fred Howey, D), 323rd (Alex Kim, R; Brian Willett, D), 324th (Andy Hsu, R; Crystal Gayden, D), 325th (Cynthia Terry, R; Andy Griffin, D), 371st (Ryan Hill, R; Marquetta "Marq" Clayton, D), 432nd (Lee Sorrells, R; Courtney Miller, D); Criminal District Judge No. 1 (Sherri Wagner, R; Cindy Stormer, D) and No. 4 (Andy Porter, R; John Brender, D); County Criminal Court No. 5 (Brad Clark, R; Julya Billhymer, D) and No. 9 (Brian Bolton, R; Lesa Pamplin, D); Justice of the Peace Precinct 2 (Mary Tom Cravens Curnutt, R; Celina Vasquez, D), 4 (Christopher Gregory, R; Rodney Lee, D) and 7 (Paige Payne-Neal, R; Kenneth D. Sanders, D). We haven't profiled judges yet.
Unopposed county races
No contestDistrict Judges 141st (John P. Chupp), 233rd (Kenneth E. Newell), 322nd (James B. Munford), 372nd (Julie Lugo) and 485th (Steven Jumes); Criminal District Judge No. 3 (Douglas Allen); County Courts at Law No. 1 (Don Pierson), 2 (Jennifer Rymell) and 3 (Mike Hrabal); County Criminal Courts 1 (David Cook), 2 (Carey Walker), 3 (Bob McCoy), 4 (Deborah Nekhom), 6 (Randi Hartin), 7 (Eric Starnes), 8 (Charles Vanover) and 10 (Trent Loftin); Probate Courts 1 (Patricia Burns) and 2 (Brook Bell); Justices of the Peace in Precincts 1 (Ricky Rodriguez), 3 (William Brandt), 5 (Sergio L. De Leon), 6 (Jason M. Charbonnet) and 8 (Lisa Woodard); 2nd Court of Appeals Places 2 (Chris Taylor) and 7 (Brian Walker).
School boards
Keller ISD is the only school board on the November ballot; Fort Worth, Arlington and most other districts vote in May. Keller's board is nonpartisan, but candidates are divided over the $828 million bond and over culture-war fights, including talk of splitting the district.
Keller ISD Trustee, Place 4
Vote for oneOpen seat. Board president John Birt is not running again.
Rachel Weatherington
Seems like good people (best choice in this race)Wants to keep teachers, fight for more school funding and "finish getting PAC money out of our school board elections." Supports the bond package.
Sources: Community Impact Q&A, Ballotpedia
Geramie Parrish
Not enough info ConservativeOpposes the bond as "too large for a district already losing students" and promises to "keep radical political ideologies and social agendas out of our classrooms."
Sources: Ballotpedia, Community Impact Q&A
Keller ISD Trustee, Place 5
Vote for oneAndrew Walsh
Seems like good people (best choice in this race)Says the board should move away from "culture wars and secretly splitting our district" and focus on keeping teachers, open budgeting and academics.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Elections Simplified
Colin Hodges
Seems like good peopleRunning to "put students first" and "restore trust in Keller ISD" while moving past culture-war fights.
Sources: Community Impact Q&A, Citizen Portal
Chris Coker
Not enough infoLists financial transparency, scrutiny of spending, falling enrollment and teacher pay as priorities. We found little on how he has voted.
Sources: Community Impact Q&A
Keller ISD Trustee, Place 6 (unexpired term)
Vote for oneTrustee Charles Randklev resigned to run for Keller City Council. Both candidates look solid; we lean to the career educator.
Tommie Johnson
Seems like good people (best choice in this race)Wants a "transparent and measurable academic roadmap," better teacher retention and more career and college pathways.
Sources: Ballotpedia
Barbara Brewer
Seems like good peopleWants open enrollment, more career and technical courses, and a review of central office spending to move money into classrooms.
Sources: Community Impact Q&A
Benbrook elections
Fort Worth and Arlington hold city elections in May, so neither has council races this fall. Benbrook's at-large council seats are nonpartisan; Place 2 (Renee Franklin) is unopposed. White Settlement, River Oaks and Forest Hill also have council races on some ballots.
City Council, Place 4
Vote for oneTwo decent candidates. We lean to the neighborhood organizer pressing on flooding from new development.
Greg Clem
Seems like good people (best choice in this race)Pushes for stricter floodplain rules and drainage fixes, and closer oversight of developments like Trinity Estates. Wants council, not city staff, setting policy.
Sources: Benbrook Life, Benbrook News
Dustin Phillips
Seems like good peopleSays he first ran so "younger families" would have a voice. Has backed a new police facility, park renovations and the U.S. 377 sound wall.
Sources: Benbrook Life, City of Benbrook
City Council, Place 6
Vote for oneAnother close call between two decent people. We lean to the resident who organized neighbors against late construction.
Whitney Hughes
Seems like good people (best choice in this race)Running with Greg Clem on the "One Benbrook" slate. In 2026 she gathered a petition asking the city to end weekday home construction at 6 p.m. instead of 8.
Sources: Benbrook Life, Change.org
Laura Mackey
Seems like good peopleHas pushed family-friendly fixes like baby changing tables in city buildings, including men's restrooms.
Sources: Benbrook Life, City of Benbrook
State and federal
Tarrant is split among five congressional districts, two state senate districts and eleven state house districts, so look up your own sample ballot to see which are yours. State Senate 22 and House 93 also have special elections for the rest of the current term, with the same two candidates.
U.S. Senator
Vote for oneAlso on the ballot: Ted Brown (Libertarian).
James Talarico
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) DemocratA former teacher who wrote the Texas law capping insulin at $25 a month and co-wrote a ban on police chokeholds.
Sources: Wikipedia
Ken Paxton
Not good people RepublicanSued to throw out four states' 2020 votes and spoke at the January 6 rally. The Republican-led Texas House impeached him for corruption 121 to 23.
Sources: Wikipedia
Governor
Vote for oneAlso on the ballot: Pat Dixon (Libertarian).
Gina Hinojosa
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) DemocratA public school advocate who ran the Austin school board before the Legislature.
Sources: Texas Tribune
Greg Abbott
Not good people RepublicanSigned SB 4, which lets state police arrest and deport people on suspicion of illegal entry, and bused more than 100,000 migrants to other cities as a stunt. Also signed the school voucher law.
Sources: Texas Tribune, Wikipedia
Lieutenant Governor
Vote for oneAlso on the ballot: Anthony Cristo (Libertarian), Kevin McCormick (Green).
Vikki Goodwin
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) DemocratRunning on school funding and against vouchers.
Sources: Texas Tribune
Attorney General
Vote for oneAlso on the ballot: Tom Oxford (Libertarian).
Nathan Johnson
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) DemocratHas passed about 134 bills since 2019 and promises to run the AG's office as a law office again instead of a political shop.
Sources: Texas Tribune
Mayes Middleton
Not good people RepublicanCalls himself "MAGA Mayes" and has called 2020 "a stolen election." Beat Chip Roy by attacking him for certifying the 2020 results.
Sources: Texas Tribune, KSAT
Everything else on the statewide ballot
Not profiledComptroller, Land Commissioner, Agriculture Commissioner, Railroad Commissioner, the State Board of Education, and the Supreme Court and appeals court seats. We haven't profiled these yet.
U.S. Representative, District 6
Vote for oneDanny Minton
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) DemocratWants congressional term limits and an end to school vouchers, and says ICE should be abolished or cut back with its budget moved to local police and Border Patrol.
Sources: Lone Star Left, Courage for Democracy
Jake Ellzey
Compromised RepublicanEndorsed by the NRA and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Voted against the Respect for Marriage Act in 2022.
Sources: NRA-PVF, New Republic, U.S. Chamber
U.S. Representative, District 12
Vote for oneAngela "Heli" Rodriguez Prilliman
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) ProgressiveRunning for universal health care and child care paid for by higher taxes on corporations and billionaires, and calls ICE "lawless."
Sources: PredictionEdge, Ballotpedia
Craig Goldman
Not good people RepublicanEndorsed by Trump and Abbott. As a state representative he did vote in 2023 to impeach Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Sources: BallotReady, Texas Tribune
U.S. Representative, District 24
Vote for oneKevin Burge
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) DemocratRunning on Medicare for All, affordable housing, tuition-free college and trade school, and abortion rights. Endorsed by the Northeast Tarrant County Democrats.
Sources: Campaign site, Take Back Congress
Beth Van Duyne
Not good people RepublicanVoted on January 7, 2021, to object to Pennsylvania's electoral votes. As Irving mayor she backed an anti-"sharia law" resolution and defended the 2015 arrest of a Muslim student over a homemade clock.
Sources: Lone Star Left, Ballotpedia
U.S. Representative, District 25
Vote for oneDione Sims
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) DemocratRunning on a living wage and lower costs for health care, food and child care. Endorsed by Kamala Harris, Rep. Marc Veasey and the Texas Organizing Project.
Sources: Olney Enterprise, Endorsements
Roger Williams
Not good people RepublicanEndorsed by Trump. The House Ethics Committee faulted him in 2017 for pushing an amendment that would have exempted car dealers like himself from rental-car recall rules.
Sources: Texas Tribune, Public Integrity, Ballotpedia
U.S. Representative, District 30
Vote for oneOpen seat. Rep. Jasmine Crockett is not running again.
Frederick D. Haynes III
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) DemocratRunning on health care for all, limits on payday lenders and abolishing ICE. Endorsed by Rep. Jasmine Crockett and Commissioner Alisa Simmons.
Sources: KERA
Everett Jackson
Not enough info RepublicanWon the Republican runoff in May with 58% of the vote. We found little else.
Sources: FOX 4
State Senator, District 9
Vote for oneA rematch of the January special runoff, which Rehmet won.
Taylor Rehmet
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) DemocratWon the January special runoff with about 57%. Backed by the Texas AFL-CIO and Texas AFT, and says the job is about "public school funding" and "lowering costs."
Sources: CBS Texas, Texas AFL-CIO
Leigh Wambsganss
Not good people RepublicanEndorsed by Trump, Ted Cruz and Dan Patrick. Her PAC work targeted DFW school boards to end diversity and inclusion programs.
Sources: Endorsements, Wikipedia
State Senator, District 22
Vote for oneCovers southern Tarrant and counties down to Waco. Also on the ballot as a special election for the rest of the current term.
Amy Martinez-Salas
Not enough info (best choice in this race) DemocratEndorsed by Rena Schroeder, a Republican she ran against, and the group Organizing by Faith. We found little else.
Sources: Ballotpedia
David Cook
Not good people RepublicanEndorsed by Trump, Dan Patrick, Texas Right to Life and the True Texas Project. Wants to eliminate school operating property taxes.
Sources: Campaign site, Wikipedia
State Representative, District 91
Vote for oneNeither is a clean choice. The tie goes to the Democrat.
Yisak Worku
Compromised (best choice in this race) ProgressiveRunning on school funding, teacher pay and a data center moratorium. He told Fort Worth DSA he is a member but would not say so on his campaign materials in a "deep red district."
Sources: Campaign site, Texas Scorecard
David Lowe
Compromised RepublicanUnseated Stephanie Klick in a 2024 primary. Voted for the 2025 voucher bill and against letting voters decide it.
Sources: Texas Tribune, Teach the Vote
State Representative, District 92
Vote for oneSalman Bhojani
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) DemocratVoted to impeach Ken Paxton in 2023. Endorsed by the Texas AFL-CIO, Texas AFT and TSTA.
Sources: Texas House, Texas AFT
JP Woodruff
Not enough info RepublicanRunning on property tax cuts toward "eventual elimination" and H-1B visa limits. No public record yet.
Sources: Campaign site
State Representative, District 93
Vote for oneNo pick. Lomick has dropped out but is still on the ballot, and Blaylock is backed by police unions and tort-reform money. Also on the ballot as a special election for the rest of the current term.
Alan Blaylock
Compromised RepublicanVoted against tax rate increases on the council. Endorsed by the Fort Worth Police Officers Association, CLEAT and Texans for Lawsuit Reform.
Sources: Campaign site, TLR PAC
Ericka Lomick
Compromised DemocratSuspended her campaign in September after reports of a 2010 federal mortgage fraud conviction that raised questions about her eligibility. Her name stays on the ballot.
Sources: Community Impact, Texas Scorecard
State Representative, District 94
Vote for oneOpen seat; Tony Tinderholt is running for commissioner.
Katie O'Brien Duzan
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) DemocratRunning on fully funded schools and school safety. Endorsed by Texas AFT, the Texas AFL-CIO and Everytown for Gun Safety.
Sources: Campaign site, Texas AFT
Cheryl Bean
Compromised RepublicanWants to eliminate property taxes. Backed by the Realtors' PAC, CLEAT and Texans for Strong Borders, and has faced questions about how she registered a personal vehicle to cut taxes.
Sources: Campaign site, Texas Realtors, Lone Star Project
State Representative, District 96
Vote for oneOpen seat; David Cook is running for state senate.
Ebony M. Turner
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) DemocratOpposes school vouchers and wants more special education money and livable wages. Endorsed by the Texas AFL-CIO and UAW Local 276.
Sources: Lone Star Left, iVoterGuide
Ellen Fleischmann
Compromised RepublicanPromises to protect children "from radical woke ideology" and shut down DEI programs. Endorsed by Americans for Prosperity and the NFIB.
Sources: Campaign site, AFP Texas
State Representative, District 97
Vote for oneBeth Llewellyn McLaughlin
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) DemocratOpposes vouchers, which she says "steal money meant to educate all kids to benefit a privileged few." Endorsed by Moms for Texas.
Sources: Campaign site, BallotReady
John W. McQueeney
Not good people RepublicanEndorsed by Trump and Abbott, and said Texas must "elect President Trump and complete the wall." Wants "zero tolerance" for homeless encampments.
Sources: Endorsements, Texas Scorecard, Campaign site
State Representative, District 98
Vote for oneCate Brennan
Not enough info (best choice in this race) DemocratLong record of local volunteering. We found little on her positions.
Sources: Community Impact Q&A
Armin Mizani
Not good people RepublicanIssued a "No Sharia Law in Keller" proclamation in December 2025 that drew pushback from residents and local officials. Endorsed by Rep. Beth Van Duyne.
Sources: Texas Scorecard
State Representative, District 99
Vote for oneGeren has kept his distance from the far right, but his ties run to business lobbies. The tie goes to the Democrat.
Michelle Winder
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) DemocratRunning on teacher pay and school funding, protecting local water and affordable health coverage. Endorsed by the Northeast Tarrant County Democrats.
Sources: Campaign site
Charlie Geren
Compromised RepublicanWas a House manager in Ken Paxton's 2023 impeachment trial. His backers are business groups: the NFIB, the Texas Association of Business PAC and Associated Republicans of Texas.
Sources: Texas Tribune, Associated Republicans, TXBIZ
Unopposed state races
No contestState Representative District 90 (Ramon Romero Jr.), District 95 (Nicole Collier) and District 101 (Junior Ezeonu).
School propositions
We describe what each proposition does and don't make recommendations. A few MUD and emergency services district measures are also on ballots in those areas. Statewide races (U.S. Senate, governor and so on) are in the State and federal section.
Keller ISD, Propositions A to E (bonds)
PropositionsFive bond measures totaling about $828 million. Each is a property tax increase.
- Prop A: $756.3 million to build, renovate and update schools, including safety and security upgrades, HVAC, plumbing and electrical replacement, and technology networks.
- Prop B: $28 million for student and teacher technology devices.
- Prop C: $8.9 million for the Keller Natatorium.
- Prop D: $11 million for the athletics complex and fieldhouse.
- Prop E: $23.9 million for artificial turf at high school baseball and softball fields and middle school competition fields.
Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD, Proposition A (tax ratification)
Propositions- Prop A: Ratifies the $1.2857 tax rate the board already adopted, with a $0.7869 operating rate. The district says it raises operating revenue about 5.23% over last year. If it fails, the rate drops to the lower limit allowed without voter approval.