Tarrant election results: O’Hare, Simmons win their County Judge primaries
This primary election season brought over 334,000 voters to the polls, likely due to the highly competitive races at the top of the ballot. Here’s who voters nominated to run in November for the top Tarrant County offices, according to unofficial results.
Tarrant County judge
Democrats
Precinct 2 Commissioner Alisa Simmons declared victory over her opponent contractor Millennium Anton C. Woods Jr. at 5:30 a.m. Wednesday morning. At the end of election night, Simmons had 61.4% of the 171,439 total votes. Woods had the fewest votes in the race with 12.5%.
U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey, who withdrew from the race and cannot be on the November ballot, had 26.1% of the votes. If he had won, precinct chairs of the Tarrant County Democratic Party would have voted to replace him with Simmons on the general election ballot. If he forced a runoff, Simmons would have won by default.
Simmons’ priorities are fiscal stability with responsibility, public health and accountability around the operation of the county jail. Woods said his priorities are government transparency and efficiency; public safety and mental health infrastructure; and economic stability and cost of living.
Republicans
Incumbent County Judge Tim O’Hare, who has been in the seat since 2022, declared victory shortly after the early voting results were posted. O’Hare had 87.6% of the votes. Robert Trevor Buker, a behavioral health security officer, received 12.4%. There were 133,273 votes in the Republican primary for county judge.
“I’ve never seen anyone overcome a 76-point margin on Election Day, so yeah, I think we can call it a win,” O’Hare told the Star-Telegram at 8 p.m. “I think it shows that voters reward people who make promises and keep them. Everything I’ve promised to do we’ve done, and we’ll continue to do that.”
O’Hare’s top priorities are lower taxes, less spending and smarter government. Buker’s priorities are taxes, elections and the constitution.
Precinct 2 commissioner
Democrats
The race is headed to a runoff between nonprofit executive Amanda Arizola and Jared Williams, a nonprofit leader.
With 42,905 ballots cast in the race, Arizola garnered 43.6% of the vote. Close behind is Williams, with 36.4%. Political consultant Gabe Rivas had 20%.
Williams’ priorities are to lower the cost of living, ensure access to excellent county services and protect fundamental rights in court meetings. Rivas wants to be accessible to residents, defend voting access and expand public health. Arizola’s goals are to improve county services, hold the county jail accountable and make common sense investments in infrastructure.
Republicans
State Rep. Tony Tinderholt defeated software consultant Lucila Seri with 80.3% of the vote.
Tinderholt’s goals as commissioner include lower property taxes, fully funded law enforcement, eliminating wasteful spending, economic growth and election integrity, per his website. Seri’s priorities are government accountability and efficiency, public safety, infrastructure and transparent elections.
Precinct 4 commissioner
Democrats
Leadership coach and organizational development consultant Nydia Cárdenas won with 58.6% of the 33,903 total ballots cast. Business owner Cedric Kanyinda had 23.6%. Perla Bojorquez, an educator, has 17.9%.
Cárdenas’s priorities are public safety, economic development, infrastructure and health and human services. Bojorquez wants to protect tax dollars, improve the maintenance of roads and bridges and fight for fair elections. Kanyinda’s goals as commissioner are to fix infrastructure, protect essential services with smart fiscal management and inclusive, responsive leadership.
Whoever wins will face Republican Incumbent Manny Ramirez, who has held the seat since 2022, in the general election Nov. 3.
County clerk
Democrats
Small business owner Lydia Bean defeated Gregoire Lewis, an insurance risk manager. Bean won 79.4% of the 162,872 total votes. Lewis had 20.7%.
Bean said she is honored to be the Democratic nominee on the November ballot. She will challenge Republican incumbent Mary Louise Nicholson, who has been in the seat since 2011.
Bean’s priorities are to defend voting rights, voting accessibility, transparency and public participation in the county budgeting process. Lewis’ goals are to increase accessibility to public information and protect voter information.
This story was originally published March 3, 2026 at 8:05 PM.