February 2, 2026
Texas Nice Time: What The Heck Just Happened In That Special Election?
A 32-point swing in a solid red state seat is what!
TL;DR
- Democrat Taylor Rehmet won the Texas Ninth District state senate special election with 57% of the vote.
- The district, previously won by Donald Trump by 17 points, saw a nearly 32-point shift towards the Democrat.
- The Republican candidate, Loretta Leigh Magee Wambsganss, outspent Rehmet significantly and had Trump's endorsement.
- This win marks a significant upset for Republicans in a district not won by Democrats since 1991.
- The article suggests this shift may be due to energized Democrats, flipping independents, and dissatisfied Republicans staying home or voting against the party.
- The district covers nearly a million people in Tarrant County, including a large part of Fort Worth.
- The article contrasts the candidates, highlighting Rehmet's background as an Air Force veteran and labor union leader against Wambsganss's history of conservative activism, particularly in school board politics.
- Trump's approval ratings are noted as cratering, especially on economic issues, which could be a factor in the election outcome.
- The article questions whether voters are tired of Republican culture-war issues and their perceived neglect of economic and healthcare concerns.
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the original article