Here are the top races in Texas and Tarrant County on Election Day — and what to know
Top leadership roles in Texas and Tarrant County will be decided on Tuesday.
As Texas selects its governor, lieutenant governor and U.S. House of Representatives delegation, important races will play out locally on the county level.
Here’s a look at the biggest races. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day.
Governor
Republican Gov. Greg Abbott faces Democratic challenger Beto O’Rourke. Abbott has linked O’Rourke to the Biden administration, while O’Rourke has cast Abbott as too extreme for the majority of Texas, calling for abortion access and tighter gun laws following the overturning of Roe v. Wade and the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde.
Both candidates entered the race with baggage: Abbott’s in the form of a divided Republican Party in which some considered him not conservative enough, particularly with his coronavirus response. Since the March primary, Republicans have urged members of the party to come together and support GOP candidates up and down the ticket. O’Rourke launched his bid for governor in the shadow of an unsuccessful presidential bid during which he took policy positions — like his “Hell yes” declaration to buy back AK-style guns — that some considered too liberal for Texans.
A Democrat hasn’t won statewide in Texas since 1994. O’Rourke narrowly lost to Ted Cruz for U.S. Senate in 2018.
Recent polls have had O’Rourke behind Abbott by percentage points in the single digits to low teens.
While O’Rourke’s campaign has centered on gun and abortion law reforms, Abbott has focused on border security, policing and the economy.
Both candidates have spent a significant amount of time in Tarrant County, which went for O’Rourke in 2018 and Biden in 2020.
Libertarian Mark Tippetts and Green Party candidate Delilah Barrios are also running for governor.
Lieutenant governor
Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick — one of the most influential people in Texas politics — is running against Democrat Mike Collier, who challenged Patrick in 2018.
In recent weeks, Collier has stressed his past as a Republican and his GOP endorsements as he works to win over coveted cross-over voters who could swing the race in his favor. This includes the endorsement of Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley, who has taken issue with Patrick’s property tax policy and relationship with local governments.
Patrick’s campaign has brushed of the cross-party support. Recent polling has suggested Patrick is fairing better with independent voters, while moderates favored Collier. Polls have had Patrick in the lead.
Patrick has targeted rural voters on a bus tour across the state and his policy priorities include the economy, border security, tax reductions and supporting the Second Amendment. Collier’s priorities include reigning in property taxes, school funding and fixing the power grid.
Libertarian Shanna Steele is also running for lieutenant governor.
Attorney General
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s legal troubles have been front and center as he campaigns for reelection. But he’s been here before and proven a formidable opponent despite them. An October poll from the Texas Politics Project shows most surveyed know little or nothing about his charges for securities fraud and an investigation by the FBI into claims he used his office to help a donor.
The same poll had 51% of likely voters supporting Paxton and 37% supporting his Democratic opponent, civil rights attorney Rochelle Garza.
Garza’s priorities on the campaign trail have included abortion rights, protections from price gouging by energy companies and transparency in the office, which handles open records requests, child support payments and the state’s Crime Victims’ Compensation Fund in addition to its legal duties. Paxton’s website notes his support for “preserving the constitution,” border security and “protecting the sanctity of life,” among other issues.
Some experts have considered the Attorney General’s office Democrats best chance for winning statewide. It remains to be seen what happens on Election Day.
Libertarian Mark Ash is also running for attorney general.
Tarrant County Commissioners Court
Tarrant County voters will see three new faces on the commissioners court: a new county judge and Precinct 2 and Precinct 4 commissioners.
The race for county judge is between Republican Tim O’Hare — a personal injury attorney who co-founded the Southlake Families PAC and previously served as Tarrant County Republican Party chair and as Farmers Branch mayor — and Democrat Deborah Peoples, a former, longtime Tarrant County Democratic Party chair and a former AT&T executive.
Either candidate would be a change from the current leadership, as Republican County Judge Glen Whitley isn’t seeking reelection. Whitley is considered more moderate than O’Hare, so his election could signal a shift to the right whereas People’s could indicate a shift to the left in the historically Red county.
O’Hare has called leadership, property tax relief and violent crime reduction top issues in the race. Peoples listed attracting business, infrastructure, health care management and effective public safety as top issues.
In Precinct 2, Republican Andy Nguyen, who held the seat from 2011-2018, is facing Democrat Alisa Simmons, president of Arlington NAACP.
Nguyen’s top issues include reducing violent crimes, lowering property taxes, improving infrastructure and economic expansion. Simmons’ top issues include lowering property taxes, improving public safety and expanding access to public health services, including mental health care.
Precinct 4 candidates are Republican Manny Ramirez, president of the Fort Worth Police Officers Association, and Democrat Cedric Kanyinda, a business owner.
In his candidate questionnaire, Ramirez listed public safety, infrastructure development and tax relief as the biggest issues in the race. Kanyinda said top issues in the race are healthcare, infrastructure and a woman’s right to choose.
District Attorney
Tarrant County District Attorney Sharen Wilson didn’t seek reelection, leaving an open seat for the job of Tarrant County’s top prosecutor. Seeking the seat are Democrat Tiffany Burks and Republican Phil Sorrells.
Burks has more than two decades of experience as a prosecutor, having served as the assistant DA in Fort Bend County and as felony court chief and the deputy chief over the Tarrant County DA office’s criminal division. Sorrells has served as a misdemeanor court judge in Tarrant County for 25 years.
In a candidate questionnaire for the Star-Telegram, Burks said voters have told her the top issues in the race are violent crime, juvenile justice and ensuring the DA’s office puts the needs of the citizens over political agendas.” Sorrells on his campaign website promises to support police, implement bail reform, clear case backlogs and create an Election Integrity Task Force.
