{"id":2563624,"date":"2026-02-03T12:34:01","date_gmt":"2026-02-03T17:34:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bad-november-ahead-for-gop-if-texas-special-election-repeats-at-scale-benson\/"},"modified":"2026-02-03T12:37:32","modified_gmt":"2026-02-03T17:37:32","slug":"bad-november-ahead-for-gop-if-texas-special-election-repeats-at-scale-benson","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bad-november-ahead-for-gop-if-texas-special-election-repeats-at-scale-benson\/","title":{"rendered":"Bad November ahead for GOP if Texas special election repeats at scale: Benson"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/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%2Fbad-november-ahead-for-gop-if-texas-special-election-repeats-at-scale-benson%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=2563624&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>The piece analyzes a Texas state senate <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/latest-poll-majority-of-americans-want-republican-party-to-control-the-senate-sean-hannity\/\" title=\"LATEST POLL: Majority of Americans Want ... to Control the Senate | Sean Hannity\">special election<\/a> and what the result could mean for Republicans in future races, especially the 2026 midterms.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Democrat Taylor Rehmet won Texas Senate District 9 by about 14%, flipping a seat that President Trump carried by 17% in 2024.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Washington Examiner contributor Guy Benson attributes the outcome to strong Democratic turnout and weaker GOP turnout,suggesting that if this pattern repeats in November,it could spell trouble for Republicans.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; GOP voices described the result as a wake-up call, with strategists warning that turnout will be decisive and that Republicans must energize their base.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Trump denied involvement in the race despite endorsing leigh wambsganss, calling the shift an example of how such changes can occur.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; On the fundraising side, the Republican National Committee entered the cycle with a notable advantage, having raised over $172 million last year, according to Federal Election Commission filings.<\/p>\n<p>the article frames the Texas result as a potential predictor of turnout dynamics and party strength in upcoming elections.  <\/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\">GOP in for &lsquo;a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/aaron-judges-amazing-swing-helps-yankees-stave-off-elimination-after-going-down-6-1\/\" title=\"Aaron Judge&#039;s &#039;Amazing Swing&#039; Helps Yankees Stave Off Elimination After Going Down 6-1\">bad night&#038;rsquo<\/a>; in November if Texas special election repeats &lsquo;at scale&rsquo;: Guy Benson<\/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_2493177\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><em>Washington Examiner<\/em> senior columnist <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/opinion\/4443183\/jon-ossoff-revealing-posts-ice\/\">Guy Benson<\/a> said the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/utah-special-election-results-put-mitt-romney-on-notice-for-2024\/\" title=\"Utah&#039;s ... ... warns Mitt Romney for 2024.\">special election outcome<\/a> in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4442988\/house-gop-margin-christian-menefee-sworn-in\/\">Texas<\/a> is a combination of Democratic voters going to the polls in droves and Republicans &ldquo;not bothering to show up.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Democrat <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4442237\/democrat-taylor-rehmet-texas-state-senate-seat\/\">Taylor Rehmet won the open Texas Senate District 9 seat<\/a> on Saturday by 14%, more than a year after President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/infrastructure\/4443635\/helping-east-palestine-signature-promise-trump-recovery-years\/\">Donald Trump<\/a> won the district by 17% in 2024. The results have prompted Republicans to call the outcome <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4440441\/trump-gop-wake-up-call-texas-state-senate-election-loss\/\">&ldquo;a wake-up call&rdquo;<\/a> ahead of the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4443502\/democrats-trust-gap-trump-approval-2026-elections\/\">2026 midterm elections<\/a>, where the party will defend its narrow majority in the House of Representatives.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4444075\/byron-donalds-challenger-rolls-out-tinder-campaign-push-talk-young-women\/\">Byron Donalds&#8217;s challenger rolls out Tinder campaign push to talk to young women<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4444132\/bill-hillary-clinton-face-ticking-clock-congressional-contempt-vote\/\">Bill and Hillary Clinton face ticking clock on congressional contempt vote<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4444106\/cory-booker-joins-possible-2028-democratic-contenders-book-tour\/\">Cory Booker joins possible 2028 Democratic contenders with book tour of his own<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Benson said while special elections aren&rsquo;t &ldquo;necessarily&rdquo; predictive of other elections, he agreed with Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) on Saturday&rsquo;s election results <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RonDeSantis\/status\/2018031846429278285?s=20\">being something the Republican Party cannot &ldquo;simply ignore.&rdquo;<\/a> He added this district went from a &ldquo;comfortable Trump district&rdquo; to a 14% victory for the Democratic Party.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;What you had here was the base for the Dems crawling over broken glass or skating over ice to get to the ballot box, independents maybe going a little wobbly on the Republicans, and a lot of <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >red-tinted voters<\/a> not bothering to show up,&rdquo; Benson said on Fox News&rsquo;s <em>Special Report with Bret Baier<\/em>, guest-hosted by John Roberts. &ldquo;If that replicates itself at scale in November, it will be a bad night for the Republicans.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 100%; max-width: 640px; max-height: 360px; min-width: 320px; min-height: 180px; overflow: hidden;\">\n<div style=\"position: relative; width: 100%; padding-top: 56.25%;\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/share.grabien.com\/share?id=3356558&amp;userid=11311&amp;loginid=9421&amp;playercolor=%23000000&amp;playersize=auto&amp;code=ddc2e2bd870938180e07da30f490b4b4\" style=\"position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: 0px;\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>GOP strategist Dennis Lennox told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> the lesson Republicans can take away from this special election is that <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4440441\/trump-gop-wake-up-call-texas-state-senate-election-loss\/\">&ldquo;November will be decided by turnout.&rdquo;<\/a> Jason Roe, a Republican strategist, has also said &ldquo;it&rsquo;s time to hit the panic button,&rdquo; and warned the party will be easily defeated &ldquo;&#8203;&#8203;if something significant doesn&rsquo;t happen.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4442237\/democrat-taylor-rehmet-texas-state-senate-seat\/\"><strong>DEMOCRAT TAYLOR REHMET FLIPS RED TEXAS STATE SENATE SEAT IN STUNNING UPSET<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Trump denied his involvement in this race, despite endorsing Republican candidate Leigh Wambsganss. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4442367\/trump-texas-special-election-endorsement\/\">Trump said &ldquo;I&rsquo;m not involved&rdquo; with this race<\/a> and dismissed the double-digit shift, saying &ldquo;things like that happen.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Ahead of the midterm elections, the Republican National Committee is starting the election cycle with a financial advantage<span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\">, having&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4442606\/rnc-hails-massive-fundraising-advantage-2025-democrats-win-texas\/\">raised<\/a><\/span><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4442606\/rnc-hails-massive-fundraising-advantage-2025-democrats-win-texas\/\">  more than $172.2 million last year<\/a>, according to the latest Federal Election Commission filings.<\/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>GOP faces rough November if Texas vote pattern repeats<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2632,"featured_media":2563625,"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\/AP26032691727976_ff69fc-e1770133283626.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[6571,6203,47006,37104],"class_list":["post-2563624","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-elections","tag-gop","tag-special-elections","tag-texas-politics"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AP26032691727976_ff69fc-e1770133283626.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2563624","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\/2632"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2563624"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2563624\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2563628,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2563624\/revisions\/2563628"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2563625"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2563624"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2563624"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2563624"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}