Democrat Taylor Rehmet Flips Texas State Senate Seat in District Donald Trump Won by 17 Points

Democrats picked up a significant victory in Texas over the weekend, flipping a state Senate seat in a district previously carried by Donald Trump by a wide margin.

Taylor Rehmet, a union president and Air Force veteran, defeated Trump-backed Republican Leigh Wambsganss in a runoff election for Texas Senate District 9, which covers parts of the Fort Worth area.

With nearly all votes counted, Rehmet held a 14-point lead — representing a dramatic swing of roughly 31 points compared to the district’s 2024 presidential results. His victory marks one of Democrats’ strongest special election performances in recent years.

Rehmet had finished first in November’s initial round of voting, earning 48 percent against Wambsganss and another Republican candidate. Saturday’s win gives Democrats another boost as they look ahead to this year’s midterm elections.

Trump publicly supported Wambsganss in the final days of the campaign, posting multiple messages backing her candidacy. However, following the loss, he distanced himself from the race, telling reporters in Florida that it was a local contest and that he was not involved.

Democratic leaders quickly highlighted the outcome as evidence of improving voter outreach. Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin said the party has seen consistent overperformance in recent elections by investing in down-ballot races nationwide.

The seat had been vacant since last summer, when former Republican officeholder Kelly Hancock stepped down to become Texas’ acting comptroller.

Rehmet’s victory follows a broader trend of Democratic gains in special elections, including recent flips in other Republican-leaning districts. Party strategists say the Texas result underscores shifting dynamics in traditionally conservative areas as campaigns intensify heading into the midterms.

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