Democrat Taylor Rehmet flipped a historically Republican district of Texas during a special election on Saturday to claim a closely watched state Senate seat.
The military veteran and union leader comfortably won the race for Texas Senate District 9, which includes the Fort Worth area, beating the Republican candidate, conservative activist Leigh Wambsganss.
Why It Matters
President Donald Trump had won the district by 17 points back in 2024, while Rehmet’s success is the latest Democrat win ahead of November’s midterm elections. The Democratic National Committee (DNC) said on Saturday the party had clinched or overperformed in 240 out of 269 elections it described as “key” since the start of the second Trump administration.
“This victory is another sign that Democrats have the momentum heading into November,” the DNC said.
What To Know
Rehmet had a lead of more than 14 percentage points after almost every vote was counted, The Associated Press reported.
“This win goes to everyday, working people,” Rehmet said.
“This victory is a warning sign to Republicans across the country,” DNC chair Ken Martin said in a statement late on Saturday. “Tonight’s results prove that no Republican seat is safe.”
Trump had urged voters in the district to cast their ballot for Wambsganss, described by the president as “phenomenal” and an “incredible supporter” of the administration’s Make America Great Again (MAGA) agenda.
“The Radical Left Democrats are spending a fortune to beat a true MAGA Warrior,” Trump said in a post to his Truth Social platform.
The DNC said it had surged funding to traditionally red states and had provided more than $22,000 each month to its Texas presence, a chunk of which contributes to campaigns like Rehmet’s. VoteVets, which promotes veterans in political spheres, said it was “proud” to have spent half a million dollars on adverts backing Rehmet.
The incumbent District 9 senator, Kelly Hancock, had stepped down in mid-2025 to become the state’s comptroller, leaving the Senate seat vacant. A special election was called to fill the spot until December 2026, when Hancock’s term officially ends.
No candidate won outright in early November 2025, triggering a run-off. Another election will take place for the seat in November 2026 to elect a senator for a full term from January 2027 until the end of 2030.
What People Are Saying
“In red, blue, and purple communities, voters are souring on Donald Trump and his disastrous, billionaire-first agenda that is raising costs on working families,” the Democratic National Committee said on Saturday.
“You can win this Election for Leigh [Wambsganss], who has my Complete and Total Endorsement,” President Donald Trump said on Saturday.
Update 2/1/2026 at 5:30 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.