The Fort Worth City Council is set to vote on a resolution opposing changes to the existing precinct boundaries in Tarrant County, which would affect the city of Fort Worth and its representation. Five council members have signed the proposal, which aims to protect the current boundary lines from potential gerrymandering.
Fort Worth is one of several municipal governments weighing in on the proposal, with Arlington Mayor Jim Ross instructing his staff to investigate the legality and ethics of the plan. Democrats argue that the effort is an attempt at racial gerrymandered voting, while Republicans claim it’s necessary due to population growth in the county.
The new maps would impact Precinct 2, which includes areas like Arlington and Mansfield, and its incumbent Democrat, Alisa Simmons. Simmons claims Republicans initiated the redistricting plan to draw her out of office.
Council member Chris Nettles initiated the proposal, citing concerns about transparency and fairness in the process. He hopes that if the resolution passes, the new precinct boundaries won’t take effect until after the 2026 election, allowing residents time to adjust and ensuring fair representation.
Nettles emphasized the importance of a “true public process” for redistricting, which would involve more extensive community input and transparency. If successful, the resolution could set a precedent for other municipalities in Tarrant County to follow.
Source: https://fortworthreport.org/2025/05/19/fort-worth-council-to-vote-on-whether-to-support-controversial-tarrant-county-redistricting