Historic Upset in North Texas State Senate Race

In a result that startled political observers across Texas, Democrat Taylor Rehmet won the special election runoff for Texas State Senate District 9 against Republican Leigh Wambsganss on January 31, 2026. This race drew attention because the district in northern Tarrant County had been a reliable Republican stronghold for decades, and had voted for former President Donald Trump by about 17 percentage points in the 2024 presidential election. 

Who Were the Candidates

Taylor Rehmet

Taylor Rehmet is a Fort Worth resident, U.S. Air Force veteran, and union leader who worked as an aircraft mechanic and later led the local machinists union. He ran as a Democrat focused on issues like affordability, public education, workers rights, and economic concerns. 

Leigh Wambsganss

Leigh Wambsganss is a Republican activist and communications professional who received endorsements from prominent GOP figures, including former President Trump and Texas political leaders. Her campaign emphasized conservative priorities and attempted to mobilize the district’s Republican base. 

The Election Process

This was a special election to fill the seat left open by Republican Kelly Hancock, who resigned in 2025 to become acting Texas comptroller. A jungle primary was held on November 4, 2025, where all candidates appeared on the same ballot regardless of party affiliation.

No candidate received over 50 percent of the vote in that first round. Rehmet led with about 47.6% of the vote, Wambsganss came in second with roughly 36.0%, and another Republican, John Huffman, finished with about 16.5%. Because no candidate won a majority, Rehmet and Wambsganss advanced to a runoff.

Runoff Results: Who Won and By How Much

On January 31, 2026, the runoff election was held to determine who would complete the unexpired term ending in early 2027. With ballots counted from nearly all precincts, Taylor Rehmet secured a decisive victory over Leigh Wambsganss with the following approximate results:

• Taylor Rehmet (Democrat): 57.21 percent of the vote
• Leigh Wambsganss (Republican): 42.79 percent of the vote

In raw numbers, Rehmet received about 54,280 votes, while Wambsganss received about 40,600 votes.

This represented a double-digit margin of victory in a district that had been considered safely Republican. The win was widely characterized as a significant upset and an indicator of shifting political dynamics in suburban North Texas.

What This Means

Rehmet’s victory flips a district that had not elected a Democrat in decades. Local and national analysts saw the result as a sign of Democratic momentum in suburban areas and a potential warning sign for Republicans ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Republicans acknowledged the loss but often pointed to low turnout and unusual winter weather as factors in the runoff.

Although the Democrats have not taken control of the state Senate outright, this win narrows the Republican margin and gives Democrats an additional seat to defend in future elections.