Democrat Taylor Rehmet wins reliably Republican Texas state Senate seat

Rehmet's victory flips a district that Trump won by 17 points in 2024

Feb. 1, 2026 at 2:47am

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Democrat Taylor Rehmet, a labor union leader and veteran, won a special election for the Texas state Senate on Saturday, flipping a reliably Republican district that President Donald Trump won by 17 points in 2024. Rehmet easily defeated Republican Leigh Wambsganss, a conservative activist, in the Fort Worth-area district.

Why it matters

Rehmet's victory adds to Democrats' record of overperforming in special elections so far this cycle, which Democrats say is further evidence that voters under the second Trump administration are motivated to reject GOP candidates and their policies. The seat was previously held by a four-term Republican incumbent.

The details

With almost all votes counted, Rehmet had a comfortable lead of more than 14 percentage points. The district is redder than its home, Tarrant County, which Trump won by 5 points in 2024 but which Democratic President Joe Biden carried in 2020. Rehmet focused his campaign on lowering costs, supporting public education, and protecting jobs.

  • The special election was held on Saturday, February 1, 2026.

The players

Taylor Rehmet

A labor union leader and veteran who won the special election for the Texas state Senate seat.

Leigh Wambsganss

A conservative activist who was the Republican candidate in the special election.

Kelly Hancock

The four-term Republican incumbent who resigned the state Senate seat to take a statewide office.

Donald Trump

The former president who urged voters to support the Republican candidate, Leigh Wambsganss, in the special election.

Ken Martin

The Democratic National Committee Chairman who called Rehmet's victory a "warning sign to Republicans across the country."

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What they’re saying

“This win goes to everyday working people.”

— Taylor Rehmet

“a warning sign to Republicans across the country.”

— Ken Martin, Democratic National Committee Chairman

What’s next

Rehmet will serve until early January, and he must win the November general election to keep the seat for a full four-year term. The Texas Legislature is not set to reconvene until 2027, and the GOP still will have a comfortable majority.

The takeaway

Rehmet's victory in a reliably Republican district is seen as a sign that voters under the second Trump administration are motivated to reject GOP candidates and their policies, potentially foreshadowing challenges for Republicans in the upcoming midterm elections.