Democrat Taylor Rehmet won a special election for the Texas state senate on Saturday, flipping a reliably Republican district that Donald Trump carried by 17 points in the 2024 presidential election. Rehmet, a labour union leader and US Air Force veteran, defeated Republican Leigh Wambsganss by more than 14 percentage points in the Fort Worth-area district.
The victory adds to Democrats' record of overperforming in special elections this cycle. Democratic National Committee chairman Ken Martin called it 'a warning sign to Republicans across the country'. Rehmet told supporters: 'This win goes to everyday working people.'
The seat became vacant after four-term Republican incumbent Kelly Hancock resigned to take a statewide office. Republicans had held the district for decades, and Hancock had won easily each time he ran. Trump won Tarrant County by five points in 2024, but Joe Biden carried it by roughly 1,800 votes in 2020.
Trump posted on Truth Social earlier on Saturday urging voters to back Wambsganss, calling her 'an incredible supporter' of his Make America Great Again movement. However, Rehmet had backing from national groups including the DNC and VoteVets, which spent $500,000 on ads. Rehmet focused on lowering costs, supporting public education and protecting jobs.
Democrats have been encouraged by their performance in elections since Trump took office, including wins in Virginia, New Jersey, Kentucky and Iowa. Rehmet's victory allows him to serve only until early January; he must win the November general election to keep the seat for a full four-year term. The Texas legislature does not reconvene until 2027, and the GOP will still hold a comfortable majority.
