When the Commissioners’ Court moves to silence our minority communities, we must become louder
Tarrant County has been home to a rich, diverse community for decades. Since 1995, LULAC Council 4568 has proudly worked alongside Fort Worth’s Latino community to ensure every person has the tools and knowledge to exercise their constitutionally protected right to vote. A right that is now under attack.
The mid-decade redistricting process currently unfolding is a deliberate attempt to sabotage the political power of Latino and Black communities. In recent years, Judge Tim O’Hare and the Commissioners Court have already stripped resources away from underserved neighborhoods, leaving many residents to feel unwelcome in their own county. This secretive and racially discriminatory redistricting process seeks to further weaken our voices and disempower our communities.
Earlier this month, Tarrant County commissioners voted to reduce early voting locations to half ahead of the 2025 special election. Judge O’Hare spearheaded the elimination of more than 100 polling sites across the county, disproportionately impacting college campuses and minority neighborhoods. These closures are not neutral budgetary decisions, but calculated moves making it more difficult for young Black and brown voters to cast their ballots.
This follows a troubling pattern. From O’Hare’s campaign to terminate the Youth Advocate Programs contract because of their work advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion, to attempts by certain commissioners to strip recognition of César Chávez Day (a hard fought recognition spearheaded by the Cesar Chavez Committee), the message is clear: certain leaders in this county want to erase our minority communities from civic life.
Even worse, these decisions are being made with little to no transparency. Advocacy organizations and residents have written letters, given testimony, and pleaded with the Commissioners Court for meaningful engagement. Yet the public is met with silence, rushed hearings, and maps drawn behind closed doors.
Without transparency, there is no democracy. Some may argue that commissioners have the authority to redraw maps as they see fit, and that they know their constituents best. But true representation requires listening. It requires trust. It requires leaders who understand that the people of Tarrant County are not obstacles to be managed but citizens whose voices must shape the future of this county.
We are calling on our neighbors to stay engaged. The struggle for representation in Tarrant County is far from over. On November 4, 2025, Texans will once again go to the polls to vote on 17 or more constitutional amendments and a special election for Senate District 9. In 2026, we will elect Congress members and an Attorney General, Lieutenant Governor, and other statewide leaders. These races matter for our communities, and our power lies in showing up and casting our votes.
We must continue to speak out against this blatant power grab. Commissioners must understand that we will not accept a redistricting process designed in secrecy to silence our communities. We will continue to demand equal access to the ballot box and fair representation for every resident of Tarrant County. Our county’s diversity is its strength. Judge O’Hare and the Commissioners Court must remember who they serve: us, the people of Tarrant County, who will keep fighting until every voice is heard and every vote is counted.
“We expect movement and likely a hearing in the case around the second or third week of September. Details are still TBD, but we’d love to have community members and advocates in the courtroom when this happens. I’ll be sure to send that information once we have it.”
