Fort Worth Democrat Taylor Rehmet defeated Southlake Republican Leigh Wambsganss in a special runoff election to fill the vacant Texas Senate District 9 seat, according to results reported by Tarrant County elections officials.
With ballots tallied from nearly all voting centers, Rehmet received 57% of the vote and Wambsganss received 43%, according to county election data. The Hill described the result as a “shock upset.”
The race advanced to a runoff after no candidate secured a majority in the November special election. Rehmet had led that contest with 47% of the vote.
BREAKING: Taylor Rehmet, a Democrat, just won the Texas SD-9 special election,
— Brian Krassenstein (@krassenstein) February 1, 2026
He just flipped a district that Trump won by 17 points and that hasn’t sent a Democrat to the legislature in 36 years.
Despite Trump’s personal endorsement and sustained push for Leigh Wambsganss,… pic.twitter.com/txCWkplq24
The seat became vacant after Republican Kelly Hancock left the Legislature to become Texas’ acting comptroller. Rehmet will serve the remainder of the unexpired term. Rehmet and Wambsganss are expected to face each other again in November for a full four-year term.
Rehmet thanked supporters at an election night event.
“Tonight, this win goes to everyday working people,” Rehmet said.
Trump wrote on Truth Social ahead of the election, urging supporters to vote and describing Rehmet’s opponent as a “phenomenal candidate” and an “incredible supporter” of his movement.
Donald J. Trump Truth Social Post 02:28 PM EST 01.31.26 pic.twitter.com/R22uG1qQsH
— Commentary Donald J. Trump Posts From Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) January 31, 2026
Texas Senate District 9 covers parts of North Texas, including much of Tarrant County. President Donald Trump carried the district by about 17.4 points in the 2024 presidential election, according to past election results.
