Trump denies involvement in Texas election despite endorsement
President Donald Trump denied involvement in a Texas special election after endorsing republican Leigh Wambsganss the day before her runoff loss. Trump posted a “Complete and Total Endorsement” for Wambsganss on Truth Social, but Democrat Taylor Rehmet won the Texas State Senate District 9 seat in an upset in a district Trump carried by 17 points in 2024. When asked about the result, Trump responded, “Somebody ran were?” and said the race was a local matter in which he was not involved. He questioned whether presidential-level support is “transferable” to down-ballot contests, criticized Democratic leadership on borders and crime, and touted his own record.Rehmet’s victory flipped a longtime Republican district and provided momentum for Democrats ahead of this year’s midterms; the article also notes a separate Texas Democratic special-election result, where Christian menefee won a primary to fill a U.S. House vacancy.
Trump denies involvement in Texas election despite endorsement: ‘Somebody ran where?’
President Donald Trump on Sunday denied he was involved in a Texas special election for a state Senate seat after reiterating his endorsement of the Republican candidate one day before the race.
In two Truth Social posts on Friday, Trump gave his “Complete and Total Endorsement” to conservative activist Leigh Wambsganss. Despite the president’s support, she ultimately lost the special runoff election for Texas State Senate District 9 to Democratic contender Taylor Rehmet on Saturday.
Rehmet’s victory was especially encouraging to Democratic Party leadership, considering the district is considered a red stronghold. In 2024, Trump won the district by 17 points.
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When asked about his reaction to Saturday’s election results, Trump replied, “I don’t know. I didn’t hear about it. Somebody ran where?”
After the reporter clarified which race, Trump said, “I’m not involved in that. That’s a local Texas race. You mean I won by 17 and this person lost? Things like that happen.”
He went on to say that it’s unknown whether the results between the presidential election and the state legislative election were “transferable” because he wasn’t on the ballot this time around.
He also ranted about Democrats, claiming their leadership leads to “open borders” and rampant crime. In contrast, the president touted his own administration for closing the southern border and reducing crime nationwide before concluding his thoughts on the Texas state Senate race.
“I know there’s a race going there, and it’s too bad,” Trump told reporters at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. “What can I say? I have nothing to do with it.”
The Fort Worth-area district was once held by Republican Kelly Hancock for over a decade before he left office last year to become the acting Texas comptroller.
While Trump downplayed it, the outcome of the race is a notable victory for Democrats who wish to maintain their momentum ahead of the midterm elections this year.
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Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin celebrated Rehmet’s win, saying it’s part of a larger “pattern” and “not an anomaly.”
Elsewhere in Texas, Democratic candidate Christian Menefee defeated a fellow Democrat to succeed late Democratic Rep. Sylvester Turner in the U.S. House. Menefee faces Rep. Al Green (D-TX) next in a Democratic primary on March 3 to run for a full term that starts in January 2027.
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