Democratic candidate Taylor Rehmet won the special election for a seat in the Texas state Senate on Saturday, flipping a district reliably held by a Republican for over a decade.
Rehmet handily defeated Trump-endorsed Republican candidate Leigh Wambsganss in the special runoff election for Texas State Senate District 9, located in the Fort Worth area. The election results showed Rehmet easily beating his opponent by 14 points.
The two vied for the seat once held by former Texas state Sen. Kelly Hancock, who left the legislative chamber to become acting comptroller for Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX). Hancock served the interests of his district from January 2013 to June 2025. Before that, he represented Texas House District 91 from January 2007 to January 2013.
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Texas State Senate District 9 has historically been a red stronghold. In 2024, President Donald Trump won the district by 17 points against then-Vice President Kamala Harris.
On Friday, Trump posted twice about backing Wambsganss in the race. Although she outraised her opponent by roughly $2.2 million and had the president’s support, Rehmet was backed by the Democratic National Committee and VoteVets.
Rehmet, who served in the Air Force and leads a chapter in the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, focused his campaign on lowering costs and advocating workers’ and veterans’ rights.
Rehmet’s labor union congratulated him on his election victory.
“Taylor’s victory is a win for working people,” IAM Union International President Brian Bryant said in a statement. “Taylor understands the challenges workers face because he’s lived them. He brings the voice of the shop floor to the State Capitol, and we know he will fight every day for fair wages, strong labor protections, and opportunity for all Texans. We couldn’t be more thrilled to have an IAM Union member in the Texas Senate.”
DNC Chairman Ken Martin said Rehmet’s victory means good news for their party in the upcoming midterm elections.
“Republicans just lost a district Trump won by 17 points- in Texas. That’s not an anomaly, it’s a pattern,” Martin posted on X overnight. “Democrats are building on our historic overperformance, and we’re not slowing down. November is coming, and we’re ready. ALL GAS, NO BRAKES!!”
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In another Texas special election on Saturday, Democratic contender Christian Menefee defeated a fellow Democrat to succeed late Rep. Sylvester Turner (D-TX) in the U.S. House. Turner died unexpectedly last March after attending Trump’s speech to a joint session of Congress.
Menefee’s win narrows the already razor-thin GOP majority in the House to 218-214. The incoming congressman faces Rep. Al Green (D-TX) next in a Democratic primary on March 3. The two will be competing to represent Texas’s 18th Congressional District after it was redrawn by state Republicans. Whoever wins the primary will be one step closer to serving a full term that starts next January.
