Tarrant County Voters Decide Key Municipal Runoffs in Saturday Election
Tarrant County voters cast their ballots Saturday in crucial runoff elections that determined the final winners for municipal leadership positions across five cities, with races in Forest Hill, Fort Worth, Grand Prairie, Kennedale, and Mansfield heading to final decisions after no candidates secured majority support in the May 3 primary elections.
The June 7, 2025, runoff election concluded a months-long campaign season that began with the regular municipal elections in early May, where multiple candidates failed to reach the required 50% threshold to avoid a runoff. Polling locations across Tarrant County opened at 7 a.m. and closed at 7 p.m., with voters able to cast ballots at any vote center location.
Key Races Shape Local Leadership
The most closely watched contests included the Fort Worth City Council District 6 race and the Forest Hill City Council Place 5 position, both featuring experienced candidates with distinct visions for their communities.
Fort Worth District 6 Competition
In Fort Worth's District 6, which encompasses much of southwest Fort Worth and the Como neighborhood, voters chose between Mia Hall and Daryl R. Davis. Hall emerged as the frontrunner from the May 3 election with 46.80% of the vote, while Davis secured 28.49%, eliminating Marshall Hobbs (21.57%) and Adrian Devine Smith (3.14%) from further consideration.
Davis, a former president of the Crowley school board, campaigned on a platform emphasizing "transparency, efficiency, accountability, and results," according to his official campaign materials6. Currently serving as executive pastor at Inspiring Body of P Church and vice president of workforce development at UpSpring, a nonprofit organization supporting individuals in overcoming employment barriers, Davis focused his campaign on policies that enhance neighborhood safety and help families retain more of their earnings.
Hall's campaign emphasized community engagement and addressing local infrastructure needs, though specific details of her platform were not extensively documented in available sources.
Forest Hill Leadership Contest
The Forest Hill City Council Place 5 race featured a direct confrontation between challenger Brigette Matthis and incumbent Keith R. Smith. In the May election, Matthis received 46.78% of 838 total votes, while Smith garnered 41.77%, with Willie Glaster capturing the remaining 11.45%.
Matthis positioned herself as a change candidate, emphasizing on her social media platforms that "it's time for action" and encouraging residents to "be the change". She identified public safety as her top priority, promising to address what she characterized as overlooked issues, including police officer shortages, rising crime rates, low officer morale, and the presence of what she termed "unqualified, overcompensated city officials".
Smith, the sitting council member elected in 2022 and currently serving as mayor pro tem, brought 35 years of education experience to his campaign. His background includes advocacy for literacy across all age groups, and his 2022 campaign emphasized a commitment to serving the community's children. Forest Hill Mayor Stephanie Boardingham endorsed Smith, praising his "unity and strong leadership" and asserting his support for council initiatives.
Election Administration and Voter Participation
The Tarrant County Elections Office oversaw the runoff process, which began with early voting on May 27 and concluded on June 3. Early voting hours varied throughout the period, operating from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, with extended hours from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on May 31 and June 2-3, and offering weekend hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June.
According to Tarrant County election officials, registered voters could cast ballots at any vote center location countywide, providing flexibility for busy schedules and work commitments. The election administration, headquartered at 2700 Premier Street in Fort Worth, coordinated multiple voting options, including early in-person voting, Election Day voting, and mail-in ballots for eligible voters.
Ballot-by-Mail Process
The deadline for requesting mail-in ballots was Tuesday, May 27, with completed ballots required to be received or postmarked by 7 p.m. on Election Day. Texas law restricts mail-in voting to specific categories of voters, including those 65 years and older, voters with disabilities, those who will be absent from their county during the entire early voting period and Election Day, and voters confined in jail.
Broader Municipal Elections Context
Beyond Tarrant County, the June 7 runoffs represented part of a larger pattern of municipal elections across North Texas, with more than two dozen runoff races occurring in multiple counties. The elections followed Texas Election Code requirements mandating runoffs when no candidate receives more than 50% of the votes cast in the initial election.
Dallas County, Collin County, and Denton County also held concurrent runoff elections, creating a significant Election Day for municipal leadership across the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area. These elections addressed leadership positions ranging from city council seats to mayoral races in communities including McKinney, Garland, Irving, and Frisco.
Voting Requirements and Procedures
Texas law required voters to present one of seven acceptable forms of photo identification when voting in person. Acceptable forms included driver's licenses, election identification certificates, personal identification cards, handgun licenses, U.S. military identification cards, U.S. citizenship certificates, and U.S. passports.
Voters who arrived at polling locations without proper identification could cast provisional ballots, with opportunities to cure these ballots by presenting acceptable identification to county election officials by June 13, 2025.
Campaign Finance and Endorsements
While specific campaign finance details were not extensively documented in available sources, the races attracted attention from local political organizations and community groups. Mayor Boardingham's endorsement of Smith in Forest Hill represented one of the few documented high-profile endorsements in the runoff campaigns.
The campaigns largely focused on local issues rather than partisan politics, reflecting the nonpartisan nature of most Texas municipal elections. Candidates emphasized practical concerns such as public safety, infrastructure maintenance, economic development, and municipal service delivery.
Historical Context and Significance
The 2025 runoff elections took place against the backdrop of ongoing growth and development pressures in Tarrant County communities. Fort Worth, as the county's largest city, faces ongoing challenges related to urban development, transportation infrastructure, and maintaining neighborhood character while accommodating population growth.
Smaller communities, such as Forest Hill, Mansfield, Kennedale, and Grand Prairie, have experienced their own development pressures, often requiring a careful balance between maintaining small-town character and providing modern municipal services.
Election Security and Transparency Measures
Tarrant County implemented comprehensive election security protocols, including machine testing, audit procedures, and verification processes for results. The county's election administration planned to generate detailed reports including precinct-by-precinct results, early voting statistics, Election Day voting counts, and provisional ballot totals.
Post-election audit reports were scheduled for completion in December 2025, providing comprehensive documentation of the election process and verification of the results. These measures reflect ongoing efforts to maintain public confidence in electoral processes amid national discussions about election integrity.
Digital Age Election Reporting
The 2025 runoffs showcased modern election reporting technology, with multiple news organizations providing real-time results through online platforms. Fox 4 Dallas-Fort Worth, NBC DFW, and other media outlets offered live election results as votes were tabulated.
Social media played an increasingly important role in candidate outreach and voter engagement, with candidates like Brigette Matthis using Facebook platforms to communicate directly with constituents. This trend reflects broader changes in political communication and voter engagement strategies at the local level.
Municipal Governance Challenges
The newly elected officials will face immediate challenges related to budget planning, infrastructure maintenance, and service delivery in their respective communities. Economic pressures, including inflation, supply chain disruptions, and changing demographics, will require careful policy attention.
Public safety emerged as a dominant theme across multiple races, reflecting ongoing concerns about crime rates, police staffing levels, and community security. The winning candidates will need to strike a balance between public safety investments and other municipal priorities, including parks, recreation, utilities, and economic development initiatives.
Regional Coordination and Future Elections
The success of the coordinated North Texas runoff elections demonstrated effective inter-county cooperation in election administration This coordination becomes increasingly important as metropolitan area communities face shared challenges related to transportation, economic development, and regional planning.
The next major election cycle is scheduled for November 4, 2025, when voters will consider additional municipal races and potentially state-level positions. The lessons learned from the June 7 runoffs will inform future election planning and candidate recruitment efforts.
Conclusion and Implications
The June 7, 2025, Tarrant County runoff elections concluded a competitive municipal election season that emphasized local governance priorities and community engagement. The results will shape municipal leadership for the coming years as communities navigate ongoing growth, development pressures, and changing demographics.
Voter participation in runoff elections typically declines compared to initial elections, making candidate mobilization efforts and community engagement crucial factors in determining outcomes8. The successful completion of these elections demonstrates the continuing vitality of local democratic participation in Texas communities.
The new municipal leaders will take office during a period of significant challenges and opportunities, requiring effective leadership, community engagement, and strategic planning to address constituent needs and concerns. Their performance will be closely watched as communities continue to evolve and grow within the broader Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area.