Tarrant County Commissioner Alisa Simmons has formally launched her campaign for county judge, setting up a high-profile contest against incumbent County Judge Tim O’Hare.
“Extremists are attacking our voting rights, weakening public services, and hoping we’ll stay quiet. We won’t, and I’m ready to lead this fight,” Simmons said in her campaign announcement.
Her entry into the race comes as past controversies and public confrontations continue to draw renewed attention.
Middle-Finger Incident and Past Public Conduct
As The Dallas Express previously reported, Simmons gave O’Hare the middle finger during a June 2025 Commissioners Court meeting after he cut off her filibuster during a heated redistricting debate. The moment was captured on video, circulated widely online, and drew condemnation from several local officials.
Simmons also accused a county employee and former political opponent, Andy Nguyen, of participating in a political conspiracy, according to The Dallas Express’ January 2025 reporting. In that post on X, Simmons alleged that Nguyen was being strategically positioned to run again for her Precinct 2 seat. Nguyen publicly denied the claim, stating he had “no intention or desire” to run.
Simmons has also faced criticism for past profanity-laced exchanges, including a 2020 incident during her Texas House District 94 campaign in which she was recorded using vulgar language toward a voter.
O’Hare Issues Sharp Response
Following Simmons’ announcement, O’Hare’s campaign released a statement criticizing her record and conduct on the Commissioners Court.
“Alisa Simmons has turned the Commissioners Court into a stage for petulant tantrums and ideological extremism,” O’Hare wrote. “Simmons has flipped off elected officials during a public meeting when she didn’t get her way, ducked critical votes to block major tax cuts, and even opposed providing bulletproof vests to law enforcement whose lives depend on them.”
He further asserted that “Simmons carries the same political ideology that Tarrant County has spent years keeping on the other side of the county line in Dallas,” contrasting it with what he described as his own record of “cut spending, reduced taxes, strengthened public safety, and delivered better results with less bureaucracy.”
Response Request
The Dallas Express reached out to Simmons for comment but did not receive a response.
