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<\/a>\t\t\t<\/p>\nThe special election was triggered when Kelly Hancock<\/a> resigned from the seat to become acting state comptroller<\/a>. That set off a fast-tracked, high-dollar campaign season<\/a> of about five months.<\/p>\n Because the race is to fill a vacant seat, no primary was necessary. The winner will serve the remainder of Hancock\u2019s term, which ends in January 2027. They\u2019ll have to win reelection to participate in the next Texas legislative session, set for 2027.<\/p>\n Keller resident Carson West, 67, voted first thing in the morning on Election Day. He said he cast his ballot for Huffman because the candidate seems \u201cfairly conservative,\u201d which West appreciated.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cHe just seemed like the better of the three candidates,\u201d West said, standing outside Keller Town Hall.\u00a0<\/p>\n Senate District 9 was his primary concern at the ballot box. He said he supported most of the proposed constitutional amendments but the list included \u201cnothing that really made me remember them.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Fort Worth resident Alan Brown, 41, said he cast a vote for Rehmet \u2014 not because he was enamored with the Democratic candidate but out of opposition to the Republicans on the ballot. He said he couldn\u2019t support GOP candidates who oppose reproductive freedom and gender-affirming care for transgender Texans, while supporting tax cuts for wealthy residents.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI feel like the Republicans are just rubbing me the wrong way,\u201d Brown said after voting at the Riverside Community Center in east Fort Worth.\u00a0<\/p>\n While labeling himself \u201ctechnically a Democrat,\u201d Brown said he typically picks and chooses candidates based on their values rather than party affiliation. In red Tarrant County, he said local Democrats have to match the Republican party in its organizing prowess and high-dollar donors to flip the county blue.\u00a0<\/p>\n Rehmet ran a relatively low-budget campaign of about $120,000 raised, compared to Huffman\u2019s and Wambsganss\u2019 raised budgets of $1.35 million and $1.6 million<\/a>, respectively. The Democrat\u2019s campaign emphasized workers\u2019 rights and was funded mostly by unions and small individual donations. Several Democratic lawmakers made donations in the $1,000 range.<\/p>\n Wambsganss\u2019 and Huffman\u2019s campaigns<\/a> were largely bankrolled by billionaires.\u00a0<\/p>\n Mailers from the two Republicans\u2019 supporting PACs attacked the other, alternately criticizing Huffman for faltering on conservative issues or alleging that Wambsganss is insincere on GOP talking points.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n If Wambsganss wins, Republicans will continue to represent a seat they\u2019ve held since 1991.\u00a0<\/p>\n Wambsganss centered her campaign on an endorsement from President Donald Trump, labeling herself as \u201cultra-MAGA.\u201d Other endorsements include those from Sen. Ted Cruz, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Tarrant County Judge Tim O\u2019Hare.<\/p>\n She listed her priorities as lowering property taxes, investing in public safety and border security.\u00a0<\/p>\n Texans United for a Conservative Majority PAC<\/a>, a committee started by Republican Texas oil tycoons Tim Dunn and Farris Wilks, contributed $450,000, and $363,250 came from the Texas Senate Leadership Fund<\/a>, a PAC launched by Patrick<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Huffman\u2019s campaign emphasized lowering property taxes, improving infrastructure and expanding school choice while supporting public school teachers.\u00a0<\/p>\n His endorsements include those of Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker and the Fort Worth Police Officers Association. A majority of Huffman\u2019s donations came from the Texas Sands PAC<\/a>, a political action committee pushing for legalized gambling<\/a> in Texas.\u00a0<\/p>\n Cecilia Lenzen and Drew Shaw are government accountability reporters for the Fort Worth Report. Contact them at cecilia.lenzen@fortworthreport.org<\/a> and drew.shaw@fortworthreport.org<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here<\/a>.<\/p>\n \n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n Fort Worth Report is certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative<\/a> for adhering to standards for ethical journalism.<\/p>\n Republish This Story<\/p>\n
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