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U.S. Representative Marc Veasey, a Democrat from Fort Worth, has announced his candidacy for Tarrant County judge, a surprising last-minute change for the seasoned congressman who was initially expected to pursue the seat being vacated by U.S. Representative Jasmine Crockett.
Just before the 6 p.m. filing deadline on Monday, Veasey opted to run for the Democratic nomination for Tarrant County’s top elected position, effectively concluding his congressional career that began in 2013.
Veasey stated, “This decision is about where I can best serve the people of Tarrant County. It’s about strengthening our party, opening the door for new leadership, and ensuring that our community continues to thrive.”
The Fort Worth Democrat has represented Texas’ 33rd Congressional District since its establishment by court order, becoming the first Black member of Congress from Texas’ third-largest county. However, following a recent redistricting by Republicans, the district was altered to exclude all of Tarrant County, now comprising only parts of Dallas County, which includes roughly one-third of Veasey’s current constituents.
Democratic Representative Julie Johnson from Farmers Branch, who represents a neighboring district, has launched her campaign for the 33rd District, alongside her predecessor Colin Allred. Previously, Veasey had indicated intentions to run in Crockett’s 30th Congressional District, which encompasses a portion of Tarrant County, as Crockett prepared to vacate her seat for a Senate run.
Instead, Veasey will challenge Republican Judge Tim O’Hare, who narrowly secured his position in 2022 with 53% of the vote and has since steered the swing county in a more conservative direction, engaging in various cultural disputes.
“Tarrant County is at a crossroads,” Veasey remarked. “I’ve witnessed how racially gerrymandered maps were crafted to undermine the influence of Black and Latino voters in North Texas — communities I have dedicated my career to defending. Our citizens deserve leadership rooted in truth, service, and respect, not division, extremism, and political theatrics.”
Veasey emphasized, “I refuse to stand idle while Tim O’Hare drags this community backward. I’m not retreating from a fight — I’m charging into the next battle.”
O’Hare, who previously served as the mayor of Farmers Branch and as chair of the Tarrant County GOP, has established strong connections with influential evangelical leaders in the area. He has gained visibility through his opposition to school diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, along with efforts to target nonprofits he believes promote radical ideologies concerning race and gender.
In a statement, O’Hare’s campaign spokesperson, Nick Maddux, criticized Veasey, claiming he has been “soft on crime, weak on border security, and supportive of higher taxes,” asserting that his record fails to measure up to O’Hare’s.
“Tarrant County deserves results, not partisan politics,” Maddux stated. “We welcome a clear contrast between Judge O’Hare’s record of delivering lower taxes, safer communities, and fulfilling his promises, and Congressman Veasey’s radical 20-year history in Washington.”
Once one of the largest Republican strongholds in the nation, Tarrant County has experienced political shifts in recent elections as it has grown in size and diversity. Joe Biden became the first Democrat to win the county in a presidential election in nearly half a century during the 2020 election, although the county reverted to Republican in 2024 with Trump winning by a narrow margin. In that same year, Allred, then a congressman from Dallas, narrowly defeated Republican Senator Ted Cruz, highlighting the county’s unpredictable political landscape.
Veasey has represented parts of Fort Worth since 2005, when he began his political career in the Texas House. He became the first representative of the newly created congressional district in 2012, which encompasses a majority-minority area that includes heavily Hispanic regions of Dallas and predominantly Black and Hispanic precincts in Tarrant County.
Reflecting on his time in the House, Veasey described it as a “profound honor” but expressed his desire to return to his home county to continue his advocacy.
Democratic Tarrant County Commissioner Alisa Simmons, whose precinct underwent a significant mid-decade redistricting in April, is also in the race for county judge. Simmons has frequently clashed with O’Hare since taking her seat in Precinct 2 in 2022.
Additionally, Frederick Haynes III, the senior pastor of Friendship-West Baptist Church in Dallas, has filed to run for Crockett’s 30th Congressional District. Haynes is connected to Crockett as her pastor and introduced her during her Senate campaign announcement.
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Tagged: 2026 elections, Marc Veasey, redistricting
Gabby Birenbaum, Washington, D.C. Correspondent, gbirenbaum@texastribune.org. Gabby Birenbaum is the Washington Correspondent, covering the Texas congressional delegation and the implications of federal policy on Texas. She previously reported on Washington for other outlets.
