Tarrant County Judge Tim O鈥橦are announced Tuesday that he is seeking reelection in 2026.
In a news release announcing his campaign, the Southlake Republican emphasized his 鈥渃lear record of delivering conservative results鈥� during his tenure.
鈥淚 have led the charge to restore limited government, cut property taxes, support law and order, and uphold Tarrant County family values,鈥� O鈥橦are . 鈥淭ogether, we changed the direction of Tarrant County.鈥�
https://twitter.com/TimothyOHare/status/1947656219176411354 O鈥橦are has served as county judge since January 2023 after , a former chair of the Tarrant County Democratic Party now . O鈥橦are defeated longtime former Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price in the .
Since taking office, O鈥橦are 鈥渦shered in a new era of accountability, efficiency, and conservative governance in Tarrant County,鈥� according to his campaign website. He touts his efforts to lower the county鈥檚 property tax rate, raise the homestead exemption and secure pay raises for law enforcement officers.
Earlier this year, O鈥橦are initiated an unusual, mid-decade redistricting process that in June. All the Republicans on the court 鈥� O鈥橦are and commissioners Matt Krause and Manny Ramirez 鈥� have said the redistricting was intended to increase the GOP majority on the commissioners court. Critics said it was intended to racially gerrymander the county and dilute the voting power of communities of color.
O鈥橦are enters his reelection bid with more than $400,000 in campaign funds, according to his news release. In his most recent , filed July 1, O鈥橦are reported maintaining $407,744.85, with $174,660 raised between Jan. 1 and June 30.
His lists endorsements from several Republican officials, including U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz; Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick; and Congressmen Craig Goldman of Fort Worth, Brandon Gill of Flower Mound and Roger Williams of Willow Park. It also includes outgoing state Rep. Tony Tinderholt of Arlington, who is next year.
The role of county judge is similar to how a mayor presides over a city. The judge is one member of the Tarrant County Commissioners Court and represents the county overall while each commissioner represents a specific portion of the county, or precinct. The judge serves four-year terms and has no term limits.
The county judge is currently paid $224,191 annually, following the commissioners court in September. Commissioners are paid $214,191 per year.
The Fort Worth Report contacted each of the four county commissioners as well as the chairs of the Tarrant County Democratic and Republican parties for comment on O鈥橦are鈥檚 campaign announcement.
Commissioner Alisa Simmons, a Democrat who previously confirmed to 四虎影院 that she intends to seek reelection next year, declined to comment.
Krause, a Republican , said he fully supports O鈥橦are鈥檚 reelection after seeing the judge 鈥渄o exactly what he said he would do鈥� on his previous campaign trail. He commended O鈥橦are鈥檚 efforts to keep taxes low and spend tax dollars wisely, as well as his leadership of the county鈥檚 redistricting process.
The redistricting is one of many controversies for which O鈥橦are faced backlash during his tenure.
In June, a found that O鈥橦are shut down a city of Fort Worth project to recognize local LGBTQ history with a state historical marker, more than a year after the city鈥檚 application for the marker was approved. City leaders, LGBTQ advocates and local historians said O鈥橦are acted outside of his authority and warned that his action marked a shift in the standard process for recognizing local history.
Last year, O鈥橦are Tarrant County college and university campuses as early voting locations ahead of the November election, saying it鈥檚 not the county鈥檚 job to make it easier for specific groups, such as students, to vote. His effort ultimately failed, but critics asserted it was an attempt to disenfranchise student voters.
Tarrant County Democratic Party chair Allison Campolo said in a statement she is 鈥渄isappointed that someone so divisive and actively harmful to the well-being of Tarrant County residents is running for office again.鈥� She said her party will wait to see how the primary election plays out, but added the Democratic Party has 鈥渁 wealth of strong candidates鈥� considering the position.
鈥淚 have no doubt whatsoever that a Democrat will be sitting in that seat come January 2027,鈥� Campolo said.
Krause said he鈥檚 not aware of any other Republican candidates who intend to enter the race for county judge. Any candidate, regardless of political party, will face an uphill climb to unseat O鈥橦are, he said. To do that, a candidate would have to be well known, well respected and well funded, Krause added.
Cecilia Lenzen is a government accountability reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact her at cecilia.lenzen@fortworthreport.org.
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