Conservative attorney Tim Davis won the race for Tarrant County Republican Party Chair after a decisive first round of voting and an unexpected show of unity from the candidates running against him.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, Davis, a partner at Jackson Walker LLP, has a long history within the Republican Party. He previously served as general counsel for the Tarrant County GOP and has earned a reputation as a respected attorney representing government entities, commercial businesses, and religious organizations.
More than one hundred eighty precinct chairs packed into the Mercy Culture East Campus to cast their votes in the closely watched election.
The seat became vacant after Tarrant County GOP Chair Bo French announced his resignation earlier this month to run for the Texas Railroad Commission in 2026, as reported by The Dallas Express.
In the first round, Davis received eighty-seven votes. John O Shea received fifty-eight. Shellie Gardner received twenty-six. Marshall Hobbs received sixteen. Davis was only six votes away from securing the chairmanship outright.
Rather than forcing another round of voting, all three candidates dropped out and endorsed Davis on the spot. The move surprised many in attendance and signaled a moment of internal unity within one of the nation’s largest county Republican organizations.
“I make that promise to you, I will never give up, and I want you to make that promise to me and to each other and to our county that you will never give up,” Davis told precinct chairs, according to the Fort Worth Report. “If we keep it, if I keep it to you, and you keep it to me, we will have a better county tomorrow than we do today and the day after and the day after.”
Local officials praised the outcome and the gesture from Davis’ former opponents.
“Congratulations to Tim Davis, the new Tarrant County Republican Party Chairman! A very cool thing happened. After Round 1 of voting, Tim was in the lead, but fell a handful of votes shy of securing the role outright. Then, the other 3 nominated candidates, John O’Shea, Shellie Gardner, and Marshall Hobbs all endorsed Tim. That is a very selfless and gracious thing to do by all 3. Well done, John, Shellie, and Marshall!” Tarrant County Judge Tim O’Hare posted on Facebook.