Democrats scored another win on Saturday, capturing a Texas Senate seat in a district that President Donald Trump carried by 17 points in the 2024 election. Taylor Rehmet, a union president and Air Force veteran, defeated Trump-backed Republican Leigh Wambsganss in a runoff for the Fort Worth-area 9th District, according to a CNN projection.
Rehmet previously secured 48% of the vote in the November first round, running against Wambsganss and a third Republican candidate. His victory Saturday signals continued momentum for Democrats in state-level races ahead of the 2026 midterms.
The seat became vacant last summer after Republican Kelly Hancock resigned to serve as Texas’s acting comptroller. Republicans had hoped to hold the district, which has leaned conservative for years. Wambsganss, a GOP activist and executive at Patriot Mobile, received a late endorsement from former President Trump, who posted multiple social media messages supporting her in the final days of the campaign.
Despite Trump’s efforts, Rehmet’s win reflects broader gains by Democrats in state and local elections over the past year. In 2025, the party flipped more than 20 state legislative seats through special and regularly scheduled elections. The trend continued most recently in December, when Democrats captured a Georgia district that Trump had carried by roughly 12 points.
Rehmet, who has led a local union and served in the Air Force, emphasized his commitment to working-class priorities during the campaign. Political analysts note that his victory demonstrates the appeal of candidates with local roots and a focus on economic issues, even in districts that favored Trump at the national level.
State Republicans acknowledged the loss as a setback but stressed the competitive nature of the race. Party leaders said the outcome highlighted the importance of maintaining voter engagement and building support in suburban districts.
Democrats framed the victory as a signal that the party can compete in traditionally Republican strongholds, particularly in suburban areas experiencing demographic shifts. Rehmet’s campaign focused on local concerns, including education, healthcare, and economic opportunity, which resonated with voters in the Fort Worth area.
With the midterm elections approaching, Rehmet’s win adds to Democratic momentum and raises questions about the stability of Republican dominance in Texas state politics. Observers note that closely watched districts, like the 9th, may become key battlegrounds as both parties prepare for the 2026 cycle.
The result also underscores the influence of grassroots organizing and local networks in state legislative contests. Rehmet’s victory offers Democrats a blueprint for success in other districts Trump carried by substantial margins just two years ago, suggesting that voter dynamics may be shifting in key suburban regions.
