County

Tarrant County Judge

Vote for: 1
Term: 4 years
Candidates: 2
Election: Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: The county judge presides over the commissioners court, which sets the county budget and tax rate and runs county government; in Tarrant County the office is administrative.

Candidates Compare by issue

Alisa Simmons

Democratic

Tarrant County Commissioner, Precinct 2 · Arlington

The gist

Proposes independent investigations of every county jail death.
Proposes public notice within 24 hours of in-custody deaths.
Proposes expanding youth mental health services countywide.
Supports pre-arrest diversion for people in mental health crises.
Supports adequate funding for MHMR and JPS Health facilities.
Supports fiscal stability, mental health care and jail accountability.

More about Alisa

View sources (3)

Proposes independent investigations of every county jail death.
People Deserve Accountability: A County Jail Safety and Custody Death Review Agenda
Campaign website · Campaign Committee to Elect Alisa Simmons · votealisasimmons.com
“Automatically open a parallel administrative investigation after every in-custody death”
Proposes public notice within 24 hours of in-custody deaths.
People Deserve Accountability: A County Jail Safety and Custody Death Review Agenda
Campaign website · Campaign Committee to Elect Alisa Simmons · votealisasimmons.com
“Publish a preliminary public notice within 24 hours of any in-custody death”
Proposes expanding youth mental health services countywide.
People Need Help Sooner: A Youth Mental Health and Early Intervention Agenda
Campaign website · Campaign Committee to Elect Alisa Simmons · votealisasimmons.com
“Increase access to school-connected mental health services across Tarrant County, including charter schools”
Supports pre-arrest diversion for people in mental health crises.
People Need Help Sooner: A Youth Mental Health and Early Intervention Agenda
Campaign website · Campaign Committee to Elect Alisa Simmons · votealisasimmons.com
“Expand pre-arrest diversion and crisis-response partnerships”
Supports adequate funding for MHMR and JPS Health facilities.
People Need Help Sooner: A Youth Mental Health and Early Intervention Agenda
Campaign website · Campaign Committee to Elect Alisa Simmons · votealisasimmons.com
“Prioritize adequate funding for MHMR and JPS Health facilities, beds, and equipment”
Supports fiscal stability, mental health care and jail accountability.
Meet the candidates running for Tarrant County Judge this primary election
News coverage · KERA News · Feb 16, 2026 · keranews.org
“Simmons said her top priorities include fiscal stability, mental and behavioral health, and accountability in jail operations and jail deaths.”

Tim O'Hare

RepublicanIncumbent

Tarrant County Judge; attorney · Southlake

The gist

Supports county tax rates below the no-new-revenue rate.
Led adoption of the county's maximum homestead exemption.
Led more than $70 million in county operating budget cuts.
Secured pay raises for county law enforcement officers.
Supports ending internet-based election results transmission.
Supported ending mandatory DEI training for county employees.
Secured state mental health funding for Tarrant County.

More about Tim

View sources (3)

Supports county tax rates below the no-new-revenue rate.
Accomplishments | Elect Tim O'Hare
Campaign website · Tim O'Hare for Tarrant County Judge Campaign · electtimohare.com
“Adopted tax rates below the No-New-Revenue Rate for four years in a row”
Led adoption of the county's maximum homestead exemption.
Accomplishments | Elect Tim O'Hare
Campaign website · Tim O'Hare for Tarrant County Judge Campaign · electtimohare.com
“Passed the county's first-ever maximum Homestead Exemption, protecting homeowners and promoting long-term affordability.”
Led more than $70 million in county operating budget cuts.
Accomplishments | Elect Tim O'Hare
Campaign website · Tim O'Hare for Tarrant County Judge Campaign · electtimohare.com
“Cut over $70 million dollars from the operating budget without reducing services.”
Secured pay raises for county law enforcement officers.
Meet Tim | Tim O'Hare for County Judge
Campaign website · Tim O'Hare for Tarrant County Judge Campaign · electtimohare.com
“securing significant pay raises for Tarrant County officers throughout his tenure on the court”
Supports ending internet-based election results transmission.
Accomplishments | Elect Tim O'Hare
Campaign website · Tim O'Hare for Tarrant County Judge Campaign · electtimohare.com
“Elimination of internet-based results transmission”
Supported ending mandatory DEI training for county employees.
Accomplishments | Elect Tim O'Hare
Campaign website · Tim O'Hare for Tarrant County Judge Campaign · electtimohare.com
“Eliminated mandatory DEI training for employees.”
Secured state mental health funding for Tarrant County.
Tim O'Hare for County Judge
Campaign website · Tim O'Hare for Tarrant County Judge Campaign · electtimohare.com
“Advocated for and secured millions in mental health funding from the state for Tarrant County.”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 6 issues covered in this race.