Democrat Taylor Rehmet Flips Texas Senate Seat Trump Won by 17 Points

Taylor Rehmet defeated Leigh Wambsganss 57%-43% in the Jan. 31 special runoff for Texas State Senate District 9, according to election returns.

The district was carried by Donald Trump by 17 points in the 2024 presidential election and, according to longtime journalist Bud Kennedy, Rehmet is the first Democrat to represent northern Tarrant County in the state Senate since the early 1980s.

Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick posted on X that the result was "a wake-up call for Republicans across Texas" and urged party activists to intensify turnout efforts, according to his post.

Campaign finance reports reviewed by Fort Worth Report show Taylor Rehmet spent $242,174 while Leigh Wambsganss raised more than $2.5 million, and VoteVets said it spent $500,000 on Rehmet's behalf, according to filings and the veterans group.

Rehmet will serve the remainder of the term until early January and must face Leigh Wambsganss again in the Nov. 2026 general election for a full four-year term, while the Texas Legislature is not scheduled to reconvene until 2027, according to state schedules.