District Clerk - Texas Ballot Compare

Tom Wilder

Republican Incumbent

On ballot as: Tom Wilder
Current role: Tarrant County District Clerk (since 1995; first elected 1994)
Background: Attended the University of Dallas (1961–1963) (per his candidate questionnaire)
Attended the University of North Texas (1964–1965) (per his candidate questionnaire)
Former operator, The Wilder Company, a commercial real estate company (22 years)
Age 82, per his candidate questionnaire (October 2026)
Experience: Board, Texas District Court Alliance; Tarrant County Bar Association Pro Bono Committee (per candidate)
Ran for Tarrant County Commissioner, Precinct 3 (1984) (per his candidate questionnaire)
Top priorities: "Complete replacement of Court Case Management System (JIMS)"
"Renovate Justice Center"
"Decrease Turnover of County Employees"
On the biggest issue: "Unfunded mandates from legislature and Supreme Court"
Tidbits: Property taxes and budget: On raising employee pay, in a candidate questionnaire: "Continue to suggest ways to increase pay without raising taxes as was done again this year."
Growth and infrastructure: Asked about the county's role in infrastructure, in a candidate questionnaire: "No ability to input on streets, water, etc."
Flooding and drainage: No public statement found
Public safety: No public statement found
Endorsements: None found in our research
Campaign website: Not found

Nathan Smith

Democratic

On ballot as: Nathan Smith
Current role: Director of public affairs, HELP Center for LGBT Health & Wellness (Arlington)
Background: Bachelor's degree, University of San Diego
Master of Professional Studies, Penn State University (per campaign)
Graduate, Arlington High School (per his candidate questionnaire)
Age 38, per his candidate questionnaire (October 2026)
Experience: U.S. Army officer (2010–2017); captain (per campaign)
Bronze Star Medal (per campaign)
Deployments: Afghanistan and Kuwait (per campaign)
Oversaw security of classified facilities at Fort Hood (per campaign)
Former staff member, Tarrant County Commissioner Alisa Simmons (policy and outreach)
Former communications chair of the Tarrant County Democratic Party and precinct chair (per campaign)
Top priorities: "Begin staffing magistrate hearings with District Clerk personnel as required by Texas state law"
"Better facilitate the jury summons process"
End the practice of "charging Tarrant residents to access their own court cases"
"Nathan will commission an independent assessment of the technology situation"
Tidbits: Property taxes and budget: His budget priority, in a candidate questionnaire: "Ending the charging of fees for documents and services to the public that should be free from the District Clerk's office."
Growth and infrastructure: Asked about the county's role in infrastructure, in a candidate questionnaire: "District Clerk does not deal with these areas directly."
Flooding and drainage: No public statement found
Public safety: No public statement found
Endorsements: None found in our research
Campaign website: nathan4tarrant.com