Tarrant County takes step to redraw commissioners’ precincts
Tarrant County commissioners voted 3-2 by party lines to enter an agreement with a Virginia-based law firm to start discussion on redistricting county precincts.
Democratic commissioners Roderick Miles of Precinct 1 and Alisa Simmons of Precinct 2 voted in opposition. Both asked why County Judge Tim O’Hare chose Public Interest Legal Foundation as the law firm instead of having an open call for proposals or using staff on the county payroll.
Public Interest Legal Foundation is based in Alexandria, Virginia, and is dedicated to election integrity and fighting voter fraud, according to its website. The firm defended Galveston County in federal litigation over allegations it unconstitutionally used racial gerrymandering in a 2021 commissioners redistricting.
Seventy-seven people signed up to speak for or against the partnership between the county and Public Interest Legal Foundation.
Those in favor said the current precinct map is obviously gerrymandered and has not been updated for 15 years despite vast growth.
According to census estimations, Tarrant County grew by 5.7 percentage points between 2020 to 2024 from 2,110,640 people to 2,230,708.
Those opposed to the redistricting conversation reasoned that there will be a required discussion of redistricting following the 2030 Census, and this is only being brought up because O’Hare, Simmons and Precinct 4 Commissioner Ramirez are up for reelection in 2026.
Tarrant County can spend up to $30,000 for the firm’s legal advice and renderings of maps redrawing the precinct lines.
Democrats have consistently held Miles’ Precinct 1 seat. The precinct includes Forest Hill, Edgecliff Village, Crowley and Burleson.
Precinct 2 includes Arlington, Dalworthington Gardens, Kennedale, Mansfield, Pantego and Grand Prairie. Republicans represented the district for 34 years until Democrat Devan Allen took the seat in 2019. Simmons won the seat in the 2022 election.
This story was originally published April 2, 2025 at 4:22 PM.