{"id":2560813,"date":"2026-02-01T11:44:01","date_gmt":"2026-02-01T16:44:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrat-taylor-rehmet-flips-red-texas-state-senate-seat\/"},"modified":"2026-02-01T11:45:32","modified_gmt":"2026-02-01T16:45:32","slug":"democrat-taylor-rehmet-flips-red-texas-state-senate-seat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrat-taylor-rehmet-flips-red-texas-state-senate-seat\/","title":{"rendered":"Democrat Taylor Rehmet flips red Texas state Senate seat"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdemocrat-taylor-rehmet-flips-red-texas-state-senate-seat%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2560813&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Democrat Taylor Rehmet won the special runoff for Texas State Senate District 9 in the Fort Worth area, flipping a seat that had been reliably Republican for more than a decade. Rehmet defeated Trump\u2011endorsed Republican Leigh Wambsganss by about 14 points, despite Wambsganss outraising him by roughly $2.2 million and receiving the president\u2019s public backing. The district had favored Donald Trump by 17 points in 2024. Rehmet, an Air Force veteran and machinists\u2019 union activist, ran on lowering costs and defending workers\u2019 and veterans\u2019 rights; he was supported by the DNC and VoteVets and was congratulated by the International Association of Machinists. The seat was vacated by Kelly Hancock,who left the Senate to become acting comptroller for Gov. Greg abbott. The article also notes another Texas special election in which Democrat Christian Menefee won a U.S. House seat, narrowing the GOP\u2019s majority in the House.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Democrat Taylor Rehmet flips red Texas state Senate seat in stunning upset<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2489556\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Democratic candidate Taylor Rehmet won the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/special-elections\/\">special election<\/a> for a seat in the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/texas\/\">Texas<\/a> state Senate on Saturday, flipping a district reliably held by a Republican for over a decade.<\/p>\n<p>Rehmet handily defeated Trump-endorsed Republican candidate Leigh Wambsganss in the special runoff election for Texas State Senate District 9, located in the Fort Worth area. The election results showed Rehmet easily beating his opponent by 14 points.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4441943\/texas-special-election-trump-endorse-leigh-wambsganss\/\">Texas special election: Trump endorses Leigh Wambsganss for state senate as Democrats set to fill House seat<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/4441262\/hochul-introduces-bill-to-curb-local-and-federal-law-enforcement-agreements\/\">Hochul introduces bill to curb local and <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >federal law enforcement agreements<\/a><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4441246\/missouri-challenges-census-counting-of-illegal-immigrants-in-federal-lawsuit\/\">Missouri challenges census counting of illegal immigrants in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/missouri-challenges-census-counting-of-illegal-immigrants-in-federal-lawsuit\/\" title=\"Missouri challenges census counting of illegal immigrants in federal lawsuit\u00a0\">federal lawsuit&#038;nbsp<\/a>;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>The two vied for the seat once held by former Texas state Sen. Kelly Hancock, who left the legislative chamber to become acting comptroller for Gov. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/greg-abbott\/\">Greg Abbott<\/a> (R-TX). Hancock served the interests of his district from January 2013 to June 2025. Before that, he represented Texas House District 91 from January 2007 to January 2013.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4442173\/christian-menefee-wins-texas-special-election-house-seat\/\">CHRISTIAN MENEFEE WINS TEXAS SPECIAL ELECTION FOR HOUSE SEAT<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Texas State Senate District 9 has historically been a red stronghold. In 2024, President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump<\/a> won the district by 17 points against then-Vice President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/kamala-harris\/\">Kamala Harris<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>On Friday, Trump <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RenzoDowney\/status\/2017409873260982570\">posted twice<\/a> about backing Wambsganss in the race. Although she <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/fortworthreport.org\/2026\/01\/26\/republican-budget-tops-2-5m-in-race-for-texas-senate-district-9-records-show\/\">outraised her opponent<\/a> by roughly $2.2 million and had the president&rsquo;s support, Rehmet was backed by the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/democratic-national-committee\/\">Democratic National Committee<\/a> and VoteVets.<\/p>\n<p>Rehmet, who served in the Air Force and leads a chapter in the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, focused his campaign on lowering costs and advocating workers&rsquo; and veterans&rsquo; rights.<\/p>\n<p>Rehmet&rsquo;s labor union congratulated him on his election victory.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Taylor&rsquo;s victory is a win for working people,&rdquo; IAM Union International President Brian Bryant <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.goiam.org\/news\/iam-union-congratulates-iam-district-776-member-and-activist-taylor-rehmet-on-texas-senate-district-9-victory\/\">said in a statement<\/a>. &ldquo;Taylor understands the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hawaii-louisiana-top-list-of-10-worst-states-to-work-in-2024-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Hawaii, Louisiana top list of 10 worst states to work in 2024 - Washington Examiner\">challenges workers face<\/a> because he&rsquo;s lived them. He brings the voice of the shop floor to the State Capitol, and we know he will fight every day for fair wages, strong labor protections, and opportunity for all Texans. We couldn&rsquo;t be more thrilled to have an IAM Union member in the Texas Senate.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>DNC Chairman Ken Martin said Rehmet&rsquo;s victory means good news for their party in the upcoming <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/midterm-elections\/\">midterm elections<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Republicans just lost a district Trump won by 17 points- in Texas. That&rsquo;s not an anomaly, it&rsquo;s a pattern,&rdquo; Martin <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/kenmartin73\/status\/2017825905427554398\">posted on X<\/a> overnight. &ldquo;Democrats are building on our historic overperformance, and we&rsquo;re not slowing down. November is coming, and we&rsquo;re ready. ALL GAS, NO BRAKES!!&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/4441262\/hochul-introduces-bill-to-curb-local-and-federal-law-enforcement-agreements\/\">HOCHUL INTRODUCES BILL TO CURB LOCAL AND FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGREEMENTS<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In another Texas special election on Saturday, Democratic contender Christian Menefee defeated a fellow Democrat to succeed late Rep. Sylvester Turner (D-TX) in the U.S. House. Turner died unexpectedly last March after attending Trump&rsquo;s speech to a joint session of Congress.<\/p>\n<p>Menefee&rsquo;s win narrows the already razor-thin GOP majority in the House to 218-214. The incoming congressman faces Rep. Al Green (D-TX) next in a Democratic primary on March 3. The two will be competing to represent Texas&rsquo;s 18th Congressional District after it was redrawn by state Republicans. Whoever wins the primary will be one step closer to serving a full term that starts next January.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Democrat Rehmet flips Texas Senate seat in upset<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2159,"featured_media":2560814,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AP26032193889546.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[72523,62062,72521,72522],"class_list":["post-2560813","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-democratic-flip","tag-election-upset","tag-taylor-rehmet","tag-texas-state-senate"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AP26032193889546.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2560813","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2159"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2560813"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2560813\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2560817,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2560813\/revisions\/2560817"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2560814"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2560813"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2560813"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2560813"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}