Parker County Judge · Texas 2026 General Election

Richard Simms

Democratic

Retired

The gist

Opposes data centers in Parker County.
Supports term limits for elected officials.
Opposes recent pay increases for county elected officials.
Proposes long-term planning for county roads and water.
Supports funding for schools and libraries.
Supports local control over state decisions.

More about Richard

View sources (1)

Opposes data centers in Parker County.
Richard Simms (Parker County Judge, Texas, candidate 2026)
Other · Ballotpedia · ballotpedia.org
“I am against data centers in Parker County and for term limits.”
Supports term limits for elected officials.
Richard Simms (Parker County Judge, Texas, candidate 2026)
Other · Ballotpedia · ballotpedia.org
“I am against data centers in Parker County and for term limits.”
Opposes recent pay increases for county elected officials.
Richard Simms (Parker County Judge, Texas, candidate 2026)
Other · Ballotpedia · ballotpedia.org
“our elected officials' pay go up by over 55%, while Social Security and the cost of living has only gone up by 24%”
Proposes long-term planning for county roads and water.
Richard Simms (Parker County Judge, Texas, candidate 2026)
Other · Ballotpedia · ballotpedia.org
“We need long term strategic community planning of roads and water.”
Supports funding for schools and libraries.
Richard Simms (Parker County Judge, Texas, candidate 2026)
Other · Ballotpedia · ballotpedia.org
“County roads need to be improved, schools and libraries need to be funded, the looming water crisis needs to be solved.”
Supports local control over state decisions.
Richard Simms (Parker County Judge, Texas, candidate 2026)
Other · Ballotpedia · ballotpedia.org
“We need Local COMMUNITY control, not Austin control.”

Pat Deen

RepublicanIncumbent

The gist

Secured federal and state funding commitments for I-20 expansion.
Led the county's $130 million 2023 transportation bond.
Voted for the no-new-revenue tax rate six of seven years.
Supports recruiting high-wage employers while keeping the county rural.
Secured increased funding for the sheriff's department.
Secured a full-time county emergency operations manager position.
Pledges to remain county judge rather than seek state office.

More about Pat

View sources (4)

Secured federal and state funding commitments for I-20 expansion.
Transportation (Re-Elect Pat Deen)
Campaign website · re-electpatdeen.com
“We have secured commitments totaling more than $1.6 billion in federal and state funding, including matching funds”
Led the county's $130 million 2023 transportation bond.
Transportation (Re-Elect Pat Deen)
Campaign website · re-electpatdeen.com
“In November 2023, we presented voters with a $130 million transportation bond—the largest in Parker County’s history.”
Voted for the no-new-revenue tax rate six of seven years.
About Pat Deen (Re-Elect Pat Deen)
Campaign website · re-electpatdeen.com
“Fought to protect tax payers by adopting no-new-revenue rate 6 of the past 7 years.”
Supports recruiting high-wage employers while keeping the county rural.
Economic Development (Re-Elect Pat Deen)
Campaign website · re-electpatdeen.com
“I have focused on bringing high-wage job opportunities while still maintaining the rural integrity of the County.”
Secured increased funding for the sheriff's department.
About Pat Deen (Re-Elect Pat Deen)
Campaign website · re-electpatdeen.com
“Increased funding for Sheriffs department to make our community safer”
Secured a full-time county emergency operations manager position.
About Pat Deen (Re-Elect Pat Deen)
Campaign website · re-electpatdeen.com
“Enhanced emergency readiness by creating a full time emergency operations manager”
Pledges to remain county judge rather than seek state office.
GOP primary race for county judge pits incumbent against recent municipal judge and cop
News coverage · Weatherford Democrat (via Yahoo News) · Feb 17, 2026 · yahoo.com
“My aspiration as a county judge is to be the best county judge I can be — and it will go no further.”