WASHINGTON \u2014 Democrats notched a shocking upset victory Saturday when they flipped a Fort Worth-area Texas state Senate seat blue for the first time since 1992, defeating a President Trump-backed candidate.<\/p>\n
Dem Taylor Rehmet dispatched Republican Leigh Wambsganss by more than 14 percentage points in the special-election race for the state seat in District 9, where President Trump won by 17 points in 2024.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis win shows what is possible in Texas with strong organizing, great candidates, and strategic investments,\u201d Texas Democratic Party Chair Kendall Scudder crowed in a statement<\/a>. <\/p>\n Democrat Taylor Rehmet has turned a Texas state Senate seat blue for the first time since 1992. Facebook\/Taylor Rehmet<\/p>\n Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin added that Rehmet\u2019s victory is \u201ca warning sign to Republicans across the country\u201d \u2014 as Trump<\/a> has admitted the GOP is facing headwinds heading into the midterms<\/p>\n The contest was to fill a vacancy left by four-term Republican Kelly Hancock, who became comptroller of Texas over the summer.<\/p>\n The GOP in Texas \u2014 currently led by Gov. Greg Abbott (right) and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick \u2014 have ruled the state for decades. REUTERS<\/p>\n Rehmet, an Air Force veteran and leader with the machinists and aerospace workers union, came out on top in the Nov. 4 special election with 48% of the vote compared to Wambsganss\u2019 36% but was short of the majority needed to avoid a runoff, which then took place Saturday. <\/p>\n He will have to defend seat in November for a complete four-year term.<\/p>\n Trump publicly backed Wambsganss, hailing her as \u201can incredible supporter.\u201d<\/p>\n Democrats haven\u2019t won statewide in Texas since 1994. <\/p>\n Republican Leigh Wambsganss lost her state Senate race even while enjoying President Trump\u2019s support. Facebook\/Leigh Wambsganss for Texas Senate<\/p>\n