Democrat Taylor Rehmet delivered one of the most stunning political upsets of 2026 on Saturday, flipping a Texas state Senate seat in a district that President Donald Trump won by 17 points just over a year ago. The 32-point swing has sent shockwaves through Republican circles and sparked intense debate about the party's vulnerabilities heading into the 2026 midterm elections.
Rehmet, a machinist union leader and Air Force veteran, captured 57% of the vote in the special election for state Senate District 9, defeating Republican candidate Leigh Wambsganss despite being massively outspent. The district encompasses a large portion of Tarrant County, historically one of the most reliably Republican counties in the nation and home to the Fort Worth metropolitan area.
The victory came despite a late push from President Trump himself, who posted three separate times on social media in the two days leading up to the election urging voters to support Wambsganss. Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick also mounted a last-minute funding push, but neither intervention proved sufficient to overcome the Democratic momentum.
Wambsganss, a well-connected local political activist, significantly outraised Rehmet throughout the campaign. The most recent fundraising filings showed she had raised more than $2.5 million compared with less than $400,000 for Rehmet. Despite the spending disadvantage, Rehmet's focus on lowering costs, supporting public education, and protecting jobs resonated with suburban voters increasingly frustrated with Republican policies.
The seat had been vacant since last summer when Republican Kelly Hancock resigned to become the state's acting comptroller. Hancock had easily won election each time he ran for the office, and Republicans had held the seat for decades. Rehmet received support from national organizations including the Democratic National Committee and VoteVets, a veterans group that spent $500,000 on advertising.
As the blame game among Republicans grew louder on Sunday, party leaders struggled to explain how a district Trump won so convincingly could swing so dramatically. Political analysts point to suburban backlash against Republican positions on abortion, education funding, and property taxes as key factors driving the shift. Latino voter turnout in the district also exceeded expectations.
Rehmet will serve the remaining 11 months of Hancock's term but will face Wambsganss again in November when both candidates will compete for a full four-year term. Democrats view the result as a potential bellwether for competitive districts across Texas and nationally.
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