GOP Loses Big in Texas State Senate Race After Mass Deportation Backlash

Democrat Taylor Rehmet defeats Republican Leigh Wambsganss in a 14-point swing in a conservative district

Feb. 3, 2026 at 11:31pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

In a surprising upset, Democrat Taylor Rehmet, a labor union leader and veteran, defeated Republican Leigh Wambsganss by 14 points in a special election for a Texas state Senate seat in Tarrant County, a conservative district that President Trump carried by 17 points in 2024. The election is seen as a backlash against the Trump administration's mass deportation policies, particularly after two high-profile killings by immigration agents in Minneapolis.

Why it matters

The election result represents a significant 31-point swing from the 2024 presidential race in this conservative district, signaling a broader trend of voter opposition to the Trump administration's aggressive immigration enforcement tactics. This could spell trouble for Republicans in the upcoming 2026 midterm elections if the party continues to embrace hardline immigration policies.

The details

Wambsganss, who had a Trump endorsement on Truth Social and vastly outspent her opponent, was seen as a strong Republican candidate. However, the fallout from the Minneapolis killings by immigration agents, as well as the Trump administration's controversial mass deportation quotas ordered by White House advisor Stephen Miller, appear to have driven a surge in Democratic and independent turnout while dampening Republican enthusiasm.

  • The special election was held on February 4, 2026.
  • In the 2024 presidential election, President Trump carried this district by 17 points.

The players

Taylor Rehmet

A labor union leader and veteran who won the Texas state Senate seat as a Democrat.

Leigh Wambsganss

The Republican candidate who was endorsed by former President Trump on Truth Social but lost the election by 14 points.

Stephen Miller

A White House advisor who ordered the immigration bureaucracy to fill a quota of 3,000 migrant arrests per day, a policy that is seen as contributing to the Republican loss.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.