US EditionA Democrat Flipped a State Senate Seat in Texas. Republicans Say It’s a ‘Wake-up Call’ for the Midterms
Taylor Rehmet won by more than 14 points with just over 15% turnout, aided by crossover Republicans and independents in a historically Republican district.
- On Jan. 31, 2026, Democrat Taylor Rehmet, a union leader, won District 9's runoff by more than 14 points in Tarrant County, flipping a seat Trump carried by over 17 points with turnout over 15%.
- Republican voters did not show up, while freezing weather and an unusual runoff date depressed turnout; Democratic organizers boosted bilingual outreach and block walking in Fort Worth's Northside.
- Rehmet ran a low-budget campaign, spending $531,331 including $286,600 in non-monetary contributions, while Wambsganss spent $3.2 million backed by PACs and oil donors.
- Taylor Rehmet will serve out former Sen. Kelly Hancock's term and rematch Leigh Wambsganss in November, a race that could influence Nov. 3 midterm strategies.
- Tarrant County, historically red, has long indicated broader political trends, prompting local and state GOP leaders to call for mobilization ahead of the March 3 primary election and Nov. 3 midterms.
14 Articles
14 Articles
All optics? Democrats claim 'historic victory' flipping deep-red Texas Senate district — but here's what they omit
Democratic allies and legacy media outlets are celebrating Taylor Rehmet's victory in Texas Senate District 9's special runoff as a historic upset for Republicans — but they fail to note that Rehmet will likely never even cast a vote unless he wins again later this year.Mark Lucas, the founder of Veteran Action, stated that a progressive political action committee funded by George Soros spent $500,000 to flip the Texas Senate race in a district …
Texas tremors shake national politics
National pundits are analyzing Texas special election results from Jan. 31. For the most part, they are getting it wrong, even though the winner for State Senator in Fort Worth, Taylor Rehmet, made it simple for them when his overwhelming victory was registered: “This win goes to everyday working people!” What the pundits ignore is that organized labor provided the shock troops for the entire campaign. The state federation of labor provided guid…
A Democrat flipped a state Senate seat in Texas. Republicans say it’s a ‘wake-up call’ for the midterms
By Arlette Saenz, Manu Raju, Ted Barrett, Alison Main, CNN (CNN) — A Democratic win in a special election in solidly red Texas is sparking a new wave of warnings from Republicans on Capitol Hill about finetuning messaging and revving up turnout heading into the midterm elections. “It should be a warning, and I think we’ve got to respond,” said Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska, adding President Donald Trump won on border and inflation issues and “if we…
Democrats celebrate upset win in Tarrant County, but Republicans expect payback in November
Taylor Rehmet, a veteran, machinist and union leader, pulled off an upset win for a Texas state senate seat in a reliably red district over the weekend. State and national Democratic leaders say the victory will give them momentum to do the same in other areas during the November midterms.
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