Trump-endorsed GOP candidate Leigh Wambsganss, who also heads the Patriot Mobile Action PAC, lost the special runoff election for Texas’s Senate District 9 seat on Saturday. Her Democratic opponent, union leader Taylor Rehmet — who beat Wambsganss by double digits (57 to 43) — will finish out the term of previous State Senator Kelly Hancock (R), who resigned in June to accept the role of acting Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.
Days leading up to the special election, Texas Republicans warned of such an outcome in the traditionally conservative district, which includes Fort Worth. MAGA-aligned Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, who runs the State Senate, said, “I’m very concerned about this election.” And Wambsganss herself referred to her candidacy as “a canary in a coalmine.”
The day before the election, President Trump encouraged voters in the district to vote, as seen below.
In the middle of the chaos in Washington, President @realDonaldTrump took the time to post about our campaign!
— Leigh Wambsganss (@LeighForTexas) January 31, 2026
Republicans, that’s how much your president cares about this election! Let’s get to the polls tomorrow and win and make our president proud of us! pic.twitter.com/ftVONWvRqQ
Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin responded to Rehmet’s victory in a statement saying: “In a Trump +17 district, Republicans had to go all out and still lost this race.” He added, “Tonight’s results prove that no Republican seat is safe.”
[NOTE: Another concern for Republicans showed up in the approximately 10x spending gap. AP reported that “Rehmet spent a little over $70,000 from Jan. 1-21. Wambsganss spent more than $736,278 during that period.”]
As seen below, Rehmet announced after his victory: “This win goes to everyday, working people. I’ll see you out there!”
This win goes to everyday, working people.
— Taylor Rehmet (@TaylorRehmetTX) February 1, 2026
I’ll see you out there! pic.twitter.com/kPWzjn2LhW
On election night, Wambsganss said she congratulated Rehmet, and wrote in a statement: “Tonight is a wakeup call for Republicans in Tarrant County, Texas, and the nation. The Democrats were energized. Too many Republicans stayed home.” She added: “Mr. Rehmet and I will face each other again in November, and I fully expect the results to be different.”
In other Texas election news, Democrat and former Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee defeated former Houston City Council member Amanda Edwards in a special runoff on Saturday. Menefee will finish out the congressional term of the late Rep. Sylvester Turner (D-TX). Turner died in March.
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