Democrat Taylor Rehmet stunned conservatives by flipping Texas Senate District 9—a Trump stronghold—in a special runoff, handing Democrats a shocking win in America’s largest Republican county.
Story Snapshot
- Rehmet won 57% (54,267 votes) to Wambsganss’s 43% (40,598 votes) on January 31, 2026, despite being outspent and out-resourced.
- Trump endorsed Republican Leigh Wambsganss, yet low GOP turnout in the special election allowed the union president Democrat to prevail in a district Trump carried by 17 points in 2024.
- Vote split between two Republicans in November’s first round handed Rehmet momentum, exposing GOP disunity.
- Rehmet serves just 11 months before a November 2026 rematch, serving as a wake-up call for Republicans amid midterm pressures.
District 9 Election Results
Taylor Rehmet defeated Leigh Wambsganss in the January 31, 2026, special runoff for Texas Senate District 9. Rehmet received 54,267 votes, or 57 percent. Wambsganss garnered 40,598 votes, or 43 percent. Complete but unofficial returns confirmed the outcome late Saturday.
The district covers Fort Worth and Tarrant County suburbs, long a Republican bastion. This seat opened when Sen. Kelly Hancock resigned for state comptroller post. Over 45,600 voters turned out early despite wintry weather.
🚨 BREAKING: Leigh Wambsgands (R) has conceded the race. Taylor Rehmet (D) has won, flipping a Trump +17 district. A Democrat will represent Northwest Tarrant for the first time in 35 years. https://t.co/w9YosVmssG
— Election Enjoyer 🇺🇸 (@ElxMapping) February 1, 2026
Republican Vote Split Doomed Wambsganss
November 2025’s three-way special election saw Rehmet take 46 percent as the lone Democrat. Republicans Leigh Wambsganss and John Huffman split their vote, with Huffman finishing third and being eliminated.
Early voting favored Republicans combined, but Rehmet surged on Election Day, outpacing both. This pattern repeated in the runoff. Wambsganss, a conservative activist prominent in 2022 school board victories for Christian values, entered with $310,000 cash on hand. Rehmet had zero.
National Backing Fails to Sway Voters
President Trump endorsed Wambsganss on Truth Social on January 30. Gov. Greg Abbott campaigned for her, claiming no turnout worries—proven wrong. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick urged Tarrant Republicans to vote. GOP PACs Texans For Lawsuit Reform and Texans United for a Conservative Majority each gave $150,000. Democrats countered with DNC volunteer recruitment and $143,383 from Texas Majority PAC—over half of Rehmet’s funds. Despite outspending, Republicans lost ground in their stronghold.
Wake-Up Call for Texas Conservatives
Wambsganss called the loss a “wakeup call” for Republicans. She stressed special election dynamics differ from November generals, predicting Tarrant County GOP revival. Rehmet framed victory as “right versus wrong,” focusing on school funding, working families, and costs—not partisan lines.
DNC Chair Ken Martin hailed it as proof no GOP seat safe. Rehmet assumes office for Hancock’s term remainder, ending December 2026. No legislative session occurs then. November rematch looms for full four-year term.
Conservatives see this as an urgent alert: low special election turnout and internal divisions erode even solid red districts. With Trump in White House advancing America First priorities, the Texas GOP must rally its base on family values, fiscal discipline, and school choice to reclaim District 9.
Rehmet’s union ties signal a push for big-government labor policies, contrasting Wambsganss’s defense of parental rights in education. Voters rejected money and endorsements for local pocketbook issues, demanding Republicans refocus messaging before midterms threaten gains nationwide.
Sources:
CBS News Texas: Texas Senate District 9 early vote, Rehmet leads Wambsganss in Tarrant County
Texas Tribune: Texas Senate District 9 runoff election results
