{"id":217209,"date":"2026-03-23T22:51:06","date_gmt":"2026-03-23T22:51:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/217209\/"},"modified":"2026-03-23T22:51:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T22:51:06","slug":"dan-patrick-names-tx-senate-committee-picks-sans-taylor-rehmet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/217209\/","title":{"rendered":"Dan Patrick names TX Senate committee picks, sans Taylor Rehmet"},"content":{"rendered":"

A Fort Worth Democrat who received national attention for flipping a historically red seat<\/a> didn\u2019t get a committee assignment for the months leading up to 2027 legislative session, a decision he described as petty partisan politics that silences Senate District 9 in Tarrant County.<\/p>\n

On Monday afternoon, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick announced which senators would fill committee vacancies, following recent membership shakeups. Lawmakers aren\u2019t currently in session but typically hold hearings in the interim to study policy topics in preparation for when they next convene.<\/p>\n

Newly sworn in Sen. Taylor Rehmet wasn\u2019t among the senators named on the lieutenant governor\u2019s latest list of committee appointees.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter months of SD-9 having no voice in the Texas Senate, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has chosen to silence our district even further by refusing to assign me to any committee,\u201d Rehmet said in a statement. \u201cThis decision reflects the kind of petty, partisan politics that too often stands in the way of delivering results for working families.\u201d<\/p>\n

Patrick\u2019s office did not immediately return a request for comment when contacted about Rehment\u2019s committee membership absence earlier in the day.<\/p>\n

The lieutenant governor endorsed Rehmet\u2019s special election opponent Leigh Wambsganss, a Republican from Southlake who he\u2019ll face again on the November ballot.<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cWhile I am disappointed, I remain fully committed \u2014 and as energized as ever \u2014 to using every tool available to improve the lives of my constituents,\u201d Rehmet said. \u201cMy office has already begun research and policy development on all committee topics, and although we are being denied a formal seat at the table, I will continue working every day to ensure Texas works the way it should for working families. \u201c<\/p>\n

Patrick\u2019s announcement was in addition to naming new committee and interim select committee chairs for the interim and 2027 legislative session.<\/p>\n

Most of Texas\u2019 31 other senators received committee assignments. Exceptions include Sen. Robert Nichols, a Jacksonville Republican who isn\u2019t seeking reelection, and Sen. Brian Birdwell, a Granbury Republican who was nominated as an assistant secretary of defense and is awaiting confirmation.<\/p>\n

Sen. Mayes Middleton, who is in a Republican primary runoff for Texas Attorney General, also didn\u2019t get a committee assignment. His Senate term expires in January, which means win or lose, he won\u2019t be returning to the Legislature.<\/p>\n

Rehmet officially took office on Feb. 19<\/a> after winning the Jan. 31 special election to fill former Sen. Kelly Hancock\u2019s Senate District 9 seat. The district includes much of northern and western Tarrant County.<\/p>\n

Rehmet, a union leader and aircraft mechanic, previously told the Star-Telegram he\u2019d prefer to serve on committees that focused on issues related public schools, helping workers, small businesses and veterans.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday\u2019s announcement does not change the promises I made to SD-9: to respond to the needs of my constituents, to keep my district informed on how decisions in Austin affect their daily lives, and to disavow the partisan politics that hurt Texans,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

On Facebook, Rehmet shared a petition link \u201cto demand that SD 9 has a voice in the upcoming committee hearings.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said his omission isn\u2019t an oversight.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s political maneuvering,\u201d the Facebook post reads. \u201cBut we know that the people are stronger than the Austin establishment.\u201d<\/p>\n

This story was originally published March 23, 2026 at 5:00 PM.<\/p>\n


\n \"Profile
\n <\/a><\/p>\n

Eleanor Dearman<\/a><\/p>\n

Fort Worth Star-Telegram<\/p>\n

Eleanor (Elly) Dearman is a Texas politics and government reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. She\u2019s based in Austin, covering the Legislature and its impact on North Texas. She grew up in Denton and has been a reporter for more than six years.
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