Tarrant County approves new commissioners precincts in 3-2 vote. Here’s the map
Tarrant County commissioners adopted new precinct boundaries Tuesday, likely giving the five-member court an additional Republican seat.
The new map, presented to the public on May 30, alters the Democratic Precincts 1 and 2 in southern Tarrant County. Precinct 2 Commissioner Alisa Simmons of Arlington, up for reelection in 2026, will be in a Republican-leaning district.
Minutes after the vote, state Rep. Tony Tinderholt, R-Arlington, announced his candidacy for the Precinct 2 seat, a day after he said he would not seek reelection.
Democrats have consistently held Roderick Miles’ Precinct 1 seat. Republicans represented Precinct 2 for 34 years until Democrat Devan Allen took the seat in 2019. Simmons won the seat in the 2022 election.
Republicans Matt Krause, Manny Ramirez and County Judge Tim O’Hare voted for the new map. Simmons and Miles voted no.
The map was one of seven presented to commissioners by Public Interest Legal Foundation, the Alexandria, Virginia law firm hired by the county April 2 to handle the redistrict efforts. The foundation hired Adam Kincaid, executive director and president of National Republican Redistricting Trust, to draw the maps. His organization coordinates “the GOP’s 50-state redistricting effort.”
Democrats delay vote
Simmons and Miles delayed the vote multiple times with motions to amend and postpone the vote to adopt map No. 7.
Simmons requested that the three representatives from Public Interest Legal Foundation come in front of the dais to answer questions about the maps. O’Hare said Simmons does not have “subpoena power.” He said he was told by them that they would only answer questions in executive session.
County Administrator Chandler Merritt told Simmons that the representatives were told of her request but said they would not enter the courtroom.
“They have got to answer to the taxpayers who are paying this bill, and they are going to answer to me out here in public,” Simmons said.
Simmons sent Precinct 2 Administrator Gerald Hodges to find them; he said no one knew where they were.
The court went into a break to review legislative procedure, after which the commissioners were each given time to comment.
Krause said the majority of Precinct 3 constituents are in favor of redistricting, including four mayors from Northeast Tarrant cities.
He also called into question the letter from eight mayors opposing redistricting. He said the attorneys behind the letter, commissioned by Arlington Mayor Jim Ross, missed key points in the law that proves the redistricting process has been done legally.
“I applaud the two mayors who pulled their name off, and I thank the mayors up in northeast who support the effort,” Krause said.
Ramirez said the process could have been more comprehensive if the Democrats were willing to work with Public Interest Legal Foundation. He said he appreciates the people who have reached out about legal concerns and he asked the law firm to look into those concerns.
O’Hare said there has not been a redistricting since 2011 and the 2021 process was only a “look” at redistricting, and there was a decision not to do so. He said he campaigned on the plan to redistrict in 2021 and thus it cannot be a pointed effort to oust Simmons.
“Contrary to some things I heard here today, I never ever think I’m doing this for the Republicans,” O’Hare said. “I think the things I stand for are good for everyone.”
Miles requested that the vote be postponed until the next meeting because two proposed maps were added only days before the vote, thus there was no time for research into how the two maps would affect residents.
214 people sign up to speak on proposed maps
The 214 speakers signed up to speak on the topic were split, but majority were opposed. Many of those in favor called for Map 1, Map 7 or the “most conservative map we can draw.” O’Hare said a few of the names listed to speak were likely fake, such as “Cart O’Grapher” and “Jerry McMander.” Seven people were kicked out of the courtroom by O’Hare for speaking out of turn and calling members of the court racists and devils.
The roughly one third of the speakers who were in favor of the redistricting said it is necessary to keep the county conservative and that there is nothing illegal about it. Ahead of the vote, four suburban mayors from Northeast Tarrant County sent a letter to the court saying this is long overdue. They called it “political malfeasance” that maps weren’t redrawn in 2021, after the decennial census.
True Texas Project President Fran Rhodes and a staff member on behalf of state Rep. Nate Schatzline, a Fort Worth Republican, were among those to speak in favor of redistricting.
“Tarrant County is the largest Republican county in the United States, and strongly supported by President Trump,” Joshua Moore said on behalf of Schatzline. “It is only right that our county representation reflects that conservative majority. We must ensure our voices are accurately represented.”
Dianna Boger, a Republican precinct chair, said she supports the map that would ensure the most conservative Commissioners Court.
“I’m in support of protecting and expanding our conservative Christian values,” Boger said. “This is about more than just lines on a map. This is about conserving low taxes, strong law enforcement, women’s spaces and safety in our biblical values.”
Roughly two-thirds of the people who spoke were opposed and said the gerrymandering is racist, not political. Experts told the Star-Telegram that the seven maps have “telltale signs of racial gerrymandering.” The residents opposed said that this is an effort by County Judge Tim O’Hare to silence minority voters.
Eight mayors had urged the county to delay Tuesday’s vote to allow for updated population data and ensure the process follows legal guidelines.
Representatives from Texas Civil Rights Project and Tarrant County Young Democrats as well as mayors from Mansfield and Arlington were among those who urged the county to keep the current map.
Broadway Baptist pastor Ryon Price said the end result of the maps is “a mockery of our democracy.”
“This is unfair, unethical, illegal, and it’s mighty ugly,” Price said. “In 1812 Massachusetts, Gov. Elbridge Gerry so manipulated a voting district that it took on the shape of Salamander. Folks called it a gerrymander. The same thing is being done here today, only this time it doesn’t look like a salamander, it looks like a snake.”
Before the County Commissioners meeting, political leaders, including Simmons, rallied residents to speak out against the proposed maps. Allison Campolo, former chair of the Tarrant County Democratic Party, told roughly 80 people to expect the vote not to go their way, but to take heart and continue fighting for what is right.
This story was originally published June 3, 2025 at 3:47 PM.
CORRECTION: True Texas Project President Fran Rhodes spoke during the commissioners meeting. An earlier version misstated the representative from the group.