Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker (R) has endorsed Tarrant County Judge Tim O’Hare (R) for reelection, citing his record on property taxes, public safety and mental health services ahead of the November election.
O’Hare shared Parker’s support in an October 16 Facebook post.
“Judge O’Hare is the right choice for Tarrant County. Lowering property taxes, prioritizing public safety, investments in mental health services and an interest in continuing to lead Tarrant County into the future,” Parker said in the statement.
“Now is the not the time for activist leadership, it’s a time to focus on governing our county into the future,” she added.
O’Hare faces Tarrant County Commissioner Alisa Simmons (D-Precinct 2) in the November 3 general election. Early voting began Monday and continues through October 30.
Republican turnout in focus
O’Hare has sought to mobilize Republican voters ahead of November, including during a September 2 campaign kickoff in Grapevine featuring U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas).
“Tarrant County is the most important county in the United States of America. And we’re going to win in November,” O’Hare told attendees, as The Dallas Express reported.
O’Hare urged supporters to expand their outreach rather than rely on traditional Republican campaign efforts.
“We are going to work harder than we have ever worked. The whole entire country is watching Tarrant County,” he said.
“We need your help financially, but we need your help knocking on doors. We need your help telling your neighbors we have more Republicans in Tarrant County than they do. We need to make sure they all get out to vote.”
Tarrant County election stakes
Republican Leigh Wambsganss is also running for a full term representing Texas Senate District 9 in a November rematch with state Sen. Taylor Rehmet (D-District 9).
President Donald Trump (R), Gov. Greg Abbott (R-Texas), Sen. Cruz and O’Hare are among her endorsers, according to her campaign.
Rehmet won the January 31 special runoff to serve an unexpired term through the end of 2026. The November 3 general election will decide who serves the full term beginning in January 2027.
Republican-backed candidates suffered setbacks in the May 2 municipal and school board elections, which are nonpartisan.
In Grapevine-Colleyville ISD, voters ousted three incumbent trustees. Matthew White defeated A.J. Pontillo, Lindsey Sheguit defeated Dianna Sager, and Darrell Brown defeated Mary Humphrey, according to official county results.
The results changed the composition of a school board that had previously attracted attention for its policy decisions. Republican-backed candidates won in Keller and North Richland Hills.
Parker also backs county clerk
Parker has also endorsed Tarrant County Clerk Mary Louise Nicholson (R) for reelection.
“I am asking every Fort Worth neighbor, Republican, Democrat, or independent, to re-elect County Clerk Mary Louise Nicholson,” Parker said in a statement on Nicholson’s campaign endorsement page.
The endorsements place Fort Worth’s mayor alongside two Republican countywide officeholders as both parties compete for support in Tarrant County ahead of the November general election.
The Dallas Express reached out to Parker for comment but did not receive a response before publication.
