Fort Worth’s incumbents cruise to reelection. One council race headed to a runoff
All of Fort Worth’s incumbents are getting another term in office after easily fending off challengers on Saturday, according to unofficial early and election day results from Tarrant County.
Eight of the 10 seats on the city council were contested. Two incumbent council members — Alan Blaylock who represents far north Fort Wort, and Macy Hill who also represents the far north along with the Cultural District — are running uncontested.
There were two open seats are up for grabs with incumbents Jared Williams and Gyna Bivens choosing not to run again. After Saturday’s result, only one of those districts is heading to a runoff.
The two open seats
Former Tarrant Democratic Party Chair Deborah Peoples won the race to succeed outgoing District 6 Council Member Gyna Bivens.
Bivens, who has represented the east Fort Worth district since 2013, announced shortly before the 2023 election that she would not be seaking another term. She endorsed pastor Michael Moore to be her successor.
Peoples had 54.27% compared to 23.87% for former Tarrant Water Board member Mary Kelleher, 17.50% for Moore, 1.53% for district operations supervisor Kenneth Bowens Jr., 1.70% for retiree Bob Willoughby, and 1.23% for financial controller Marvin Jose Diaz.
Peoples will join the council four years after coming up short against Mayor Mattie Parker in the June 2021 runoff. The former rivals will now sit together on the council dais.
The other open seat is District 6, which covers southwest Fort Worth and the Como neighborhood. It’s has been represented by nonprofit executive Jared Williams for the past four years.
Williams chose not to run for a third term, citing his wish to “deepen my livelong pursuit of God’s love, mercy and justice,” through service to his faith community and his work fighting hunger as an executive at the Tarrant Area Food Bank.
Williams has endorsed Crowley school board member and nonprofit executive Daryl Davis for the council seat.
After all the vote centers reported results, Fort Worth school district administrator Mia Hall is leading with 46.84% compared to 28.50% for Davis, 21.52% for college professor Marshall Hobbs, and 3.14% for veteran Adrian Smith.
How did the incumbents do?
Almost every incumbent beat their challengers by at least 50%.
The closest race is District 9, where incumbent Elizabeth Beck has 65.78% compared to 29.95% for insurance agent Jenny Stewart, and 4.28% for construction worker Michael Raulerson.
District 8 council member Chris Nettles, whose spats with challenger Payton Jackson generated a lot of attention this election cycle, is leading with 74.48% compared to 17.83% for small business owner Arthur McCoy Jr, and 7.69% for Jackson.
In a statement on Instagram, Jackson said the results showed that “idolatry is alive and well in local politics.”
“Let me be clear: this race has exposed more than a crooked politician. It’s revealed the deep rot that stretches into every corner of this community,” she said.
In a text message to the Star-Telegram, Nettles said the result showed District 8 residents enjoy competent leadership they can trust.
“Together, we will never settle and always keep the best interest of our greater community at the forefront,” he said.
Speaking at Mayor Mattie Parker’s campaign event, District 3 council member Michael Crain said the election results show that Fort Worth residents believe in the job the council is doing.
“We’ve got a great city, and let’s keep this trajectory going,” he said.
Will there be runoffs?
Only the District 6 race looks poised for a runoff.
Mia Hall said she was honored to have received the most votes while not securing the required 50% to win the district outright.
“I am energized and ready to return to the field to continue earning the trust of our neighbors across the district,” Hall said in a statement to the Star-Telegram.
Hall added that her campaign’s focus of promoting strong neighborhoods, economic development and improved city services would ultimately carry her to victory in the June 7 runoff.
Davis did not immediately respond to an email from the Star-Telegram requesting comment.
This story was originally published May 3, 2025 at 7:40 PM.
.jpg)