North Texas got a political jolt today when Tarrant County District Attorney Sharen Wilson, a Republican, announced she was not seeking reelection in 2022. Wilson’s surprise announcement comes as the Republican grip on the North Texas county has been waning.
Wilson was elected District Attorney in 2014. In 2018, she won her reelection with 53 percent of the vote. A self-described “life-long Republican,” Wilson was listing endorsements on her Facebook page just a few days ago.
As District Attorney, Wilson gained national notoriety after her office decided to prosecute Fort Worth resident Crystal Mason for casting a provisional ballot in 2016. Mason was under the impression that on probation she was eligible to vote. Mason’s case has been appealed to the Texas Criminal Court of Appeals, and a bipartisan amicus brief was filed on her behalf.
Wilson’s decision to not run for another term does come as Tarrant County has drifted increasingly more Democratic. Earlier this year, former Tarrant County Democratic Party Chair Deborah Peoples lost a close race for Fort Worth Mayor. However, the city council of Fort Worth flipped to a Democratic majority. Joe Biden also very narrowly carried Tarrant County in 2020.
Currently, there are two Democrats vying for the District Attorney’s office in Tarrant County: Albert Roberts and Tiffany Burks.
A longtime writer and journalist, Jessica was thrilled to join the Texas Signal where she could utilize her unique perspective on politics and culture. As the Features and Opinion Editor, she is responsible for coordinating editorials and segments from diverse authors. She is also the host of the podcast the Tex Mix, as well as the co-host for the weekly SignalCast. Jessica attended Harvard College, is a onetime fitness blogger, and has now transitioned to recreational runner (for which her joints are thankful).
