Full Breakdown
North Texas Municipal Elections Shape Transit, Infrastructure and City Leadership
5/3/2026, 11:21:32 PM
Election Day Overview
On May 2 2026 voters in North Texas cast ballots in a coordinated municipal election that included bond packages, Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) membership votes, mayoral contests and charter amendments. The contests affected billions of dollars in local spending, regional transportation, and city governance across Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington, Frisco, Irving, Keller and several smaller municipalities.
Key Ballot Measures
- Fort Worth bond package: $845 million split into six propositions—$511.5 M for streets and mobility (Prop A), $185.1 M for parks and open space (Prop B), $14.6 M for libraries (Prop C), $10 M for affordable housing (Prop D), $63.9 M for police, fire and emergency communications (Prop E), and $59.9 M for animal-care facilities (Prop F). All six received majority support.
- Dallas ISD bond: A record $6.2 billion bond, the largest in Texas history, proposes 26 new schools, extensive renovations, technology upgrades and safety improvements. The plan would raise the average homeowner’s tax bill by about $2.79 per month.
- DART membership votes: Addison and University Park voted to remain members; Highland Park voted to withdraw, triggering service cessation after the May 13 canvass.
- Mayoral races: Arlington re-elected Mayor Jim Ross (third term); Frisco, Irving and Keller elected new mayors (Mark Hill vs Rod Vilhauer runoff in Frisco; Al Zapanta in Irving; Ross McMullin in Keller).
- Charter amendments (Fort Worth): Voters approved a salary increase for the mayor and council (doubling to $60 K and $50 K) and rejected a proposal granting the city manager unilateral department-restructuring authority.
Official Statements & Responses
Mayor Mattie Parker praised Fort Worth voters for approving the bond, noting the city will “make improvements to streets, parks, libraries, affordable housing, police and fire facilities, and animal care.” DART Chair Randall Bryant emphasized that “the future of North Texas will be shaped by the cities that choose to move forward with DART,” and urged state legislators to give member cities “room to breathe.” Arlington Mayor Jim Ross highlighted the city’s recent projects—including the Dallas Cowboys stadium deal—and warned of a $20 million budget shortfall tied to appraisal-district re-appraisals. Addison’s council announced a contract with Via for a micro-transit service costing $1.85 million annually, positioning it as a lower-cost alternative to DART.
Criticism & Opposition
Addison resident Charlisa Moore argued the DART alternative “is not gonna work…so I’m voting tomorrow for DART,” reflecting concerns that micro-transit may not meet rider needs. Councilman Randy Smith countered that “I would rather be able to see it on my phone…than wait for a DART bus in the rain, heat, sleet or cold.” Tax-increase skeptics in Dallas and Fort Worth warned that the bond packages could strain household budgets. The Tarrant County Democratic Party opposed the charter amendment that would expand city-manager authority, citing reduced oversight.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on exact approval margins: one report cites 59.9 % for Fort Worth’s Prop A, while another provides only “majority support” without percentages. Official DART vote tallies for the three cities have not been released, leaving precise withdrawal margins unknown. Voter-turnout figures range from “about 4 %” to a specific count of 22,450 Fort Worth voters, indicating minor reporting variance.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The future of North Texas will be shaped by the cities that choose to move forward with DART. We are focused on expanding this system with partners who recognize that transit drives economic growth, connects people to opportunity, and strengthens communities,” — Randall Bryant, Chair, DART Board of Directors
- “I want people to think that I left Arlington better than it was when I found it,” — Jim Ross, Mayor of Arlington
- “Fort Worth residents have the final say in any city bond and charter election, and I am grateful to those who turned out to vote in this one,” — Mattie Parker, Mayor of Fort Worth
- “The alternative is not gonna work It’s just not. No. So, I’m voting tomorrow for DART,” — Charlisa Moore, Addison resident
- “I would rather be able to see it on my phone and know when it’s coming and I can stay inside my restaurant if I’m calling from a restaurant or stay in my living room and know to step out of my front door when the car gets there than wait for a DART bus in the rain, the heat, the sleet, or the cold,” — Randy Smith, Addison Councilman
What’s Next
A runoff between Mark Hill and Rod Vilhauer will decide Frisco’s mayor on June 13. DART will begin phasing out service in Highland Park after the May 13 canvass, while Addison prepares to launch Via’s micro-transit platform. Fort Worth’s charter amendments will take effect in fiscal year 2027, and the $845 million bond projects are slated for phased implementation over the next several years.
