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muriel_volestrangler

(105,798 posts) Sun Feb 1, 2026, 09:22 AM Sunday

Democrat Taylor Rehmet wins a reliably Republican Texas state Senate seat, stunning GOP

Source: NPR/AP

Democrat Taylor Rehmet 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, a labor union leader and veteran, easily defeated Republican Leigh Wambsganss, a conservative activist, in the Fort Worth-area district. With almost all votes counted, Rehmet had a comfortable lead of more than 14 percentage points.

"This win goes to everyday working people," Rehmet told supporters.

His victory added to Democrats' record of overperforming in special elections so far this cycle. Democrats said it was further evidence that voters under the second Trump administration are motivated to reject GOP candidates and their policies.

Read more: https://www.npr.org/2026/02/01/nx-s1-5695678/democrat-taylor-rehmet-wins-texas-state-senate-seat

25 replies

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Democrat Taylor Rehmet wins a reliably Republican Texas state Senate seat, stunning GOP (Original Post) muriel_volestrangler Sunday OP

Congratulations Taylor Rehmet and Texas Democrats! FakeNoose Sunday #1

Why would the GQP be stunned?................ Lovie777 Sunday #2

because they are morons who live in their own bubble... but this should be a big wake up call for them LymphocyteLover Sunday #13

Pay attention, Party. THIS guy won a BIG win. Run guys like THIS Callie1979 Sunday #3

is this the article (from the atlantic) you're talking about? here's an archive link orleans Sunday #19

Yes thats it!!! The hard-core is the 30% you can write off. Callie1979 Sunday #22

i was noticing that too. nt orleans Monday #23

I'm starting to experience something that feels like hope. catbyte Sunday #4

Great!! LtTx Sunday #5

fearless leader... myohmy2 Sunday #6

Yup...pimping for her the last few days. Everything Trump touches DIES........ Bengus81 Sunday #21

I hope the 6 on the USSC are beginning to feel the heat because we're not stopping at F45 and in2herbs Sunday #7

This victory was during a period of extreme weather. broiles Sunday #8

+1 dalton99a Sunday #15

Repugs, the voters are coming for you. Sneederbunk Sunday #9

The Trump and Maga Republicans will do everything they can to interfere and even prevent fair Fil1957 Sunday #10

50 State Strategy vs. The DNC and other Beltway Dems Tetrachloride Sunday #11

Importantly, did the republican campaign heavily on the president's name? JohnnyRingo Sunday #12

Kicked and recommended Uncle Joe Sunday #14

"This win goes to everyday working people," Rehmet told supporters. turbinetree Sunday #16

"Let the sun shine, let the sun shine, the sun shines in" Buddyzbuddy Sunday #17

I have been active in Texas politics for a long time and I am still hoping that Texas will turn blue LetMyPeopleVote Sunday #18

I hope it's a sign of things to come! calimary Sunday #20

MaddowBlog-As Dems flip a red district in Texas, Trump tries to distance himself from his own failure LetMyPeopleVote Monday #24

Trump busted for denying part in GOP's Texas rout: 'He was most definitely involved' LetMyPeopleVote 11 hrs ago #25

FakeNoose

(40,637 posts)

1. Congratulations Taylor Rehmet and Texas Democrats!

Reply to muriel_volestrangler (Original post)

Sun Feb 1, 2026, 09:24 AM

Sunday

This is quite an achievement, and it means there's HOPE for ALL of us!

Lovie777

(22,206 posts)

2. Why would the GQP be stunned?................

Reply to muriel_volestrangler (Original post)

Sun Feb 1, 2026, 09:37 AM

Sunday

hell red states, GQP controlled states are the meanness, authoritative, denying civil rights assholes around. Cruelty, and do as I say bunch of white supremacists.

Plus immigration and ICE are toxic.

LymphocyteLover

(9,537 posts)

13. because they are morons who live in their own bubble... but this should be a big wake up call for them

Reply to Lovie777 (Reply #2)

Sun Feb 1, 2026, 12:01 PM

Sunday

Callie1979

(1,222 posts)

3. Pay attention, Party. THIS guy won a BIG win. Run guys like THIS

Reply to muriel_volestrangler (Original post)

Sun Feb 1, 2026, 10:02 AM

Sunday

And read the article from a couple days ago "The 4 types of Trump voter". It's very accurate from the people I know & we'd do well to understand the types we CAN get & how. We all know the MAGA are a lost cause unless they change on their own. Focus on the OTHERS

orleans

(36,727 posts)

19. is this the article (from the atlantic) you're talking about? here's an archive link

Reply to Callie1979 (Reply #3)

Sun Feb 1, 2026, 04:36 PM

Sunday

https://archive.is/IVoO2#selection-899.0-902.0
so now, after reading this, i'm curious as to what percentage in each group have:

mommy issues
daddy issues
incel issues
were bullied as children
were bullies as children
were sexually abused as children or young adults
became a sexual abuser
didn't do well in school
didn't have a lot of friends
abused animals
what percentage of which group has the most authoritarian personalities?
etc etc

Callie1979

(1,222 posts)

22. Yes thats it!!! The hard-core is the 30% you can write off.

Reply to orleans (Reply #19)

Sun Feb 1, 2026, 07:22 PM

Sunday

The "bottom" 2 categories are the ones who still have some level of private thought. Add a good chunk of them to the Dems who voted for trump & you win bigly

orleans

(36,727 posts)

23. i was noticing that too. nt

Reply to Callie1979 (Reply #22)

Mon Feb 2, 2026, 02:16 AM

Monday

catbyte

(38,814 posts)

4. I'm starting to experience something that feels like hope.

Reply to muriel_volestrangler (Original post)

Sun Feb 1, 2026, 10:11 AM

Sunday

LtTx

(57 posts)

5. Great!!

Reply to muriel_volestrangler (Original post)

Sun Feb 1, 2026, 10:28 AM

Sunday

We, as Democrats in TX, need to look at this race. We need to carefully think about the Crockett vs. Talarico primary. Who can actually win this senate seat? That is the endgame. We need to keep that in mind.

myohmy2

(3,716 posts)

6. fearless leader...

Reply to muriel_volestrangler (Original post)

Sun Feb 1, 2026, 10:34 AM

Sunday

...won't be happy...

... ...

Bengus81

(9,956 posts)

21. Yup...pimping for her the last few days. Everything Trump touches DIES........

Reply to myohmy2 (Reply #6)

Sun Feb 1, 2026, 05:13 PM

Sunday

in2herbs

(4,341 posts)

7. I hope the 6 on the USSC are beginning to feel the heat because we're not stopping at F45 and

Reply to muriel_volestrangler (Original post)

Sun Feb 1, 2026, 10:38 AM

Sunday

his regime!

broiles

(1,442 posts)

8. This victory was during a period of extreme weather.

Reply to muriel_volestrangler (Original post)

Sun Feb 1, 2026, 10:55 AM

Sunday

Early voting was shortened due to icy roads, schools were closed for about 4 days of early voting and election day was freezing.

dalton99a

(92,769 posts)

15. +1

Reply to broiles (Reply #8)

Sun Feb 1, 2026, 12:21 PM

Sunday

Sneederbunk

(17,332 posts)

9. Repugs, the voters are coming for you.

Reply to muriel_volestrangler (Original post)

Sun Feb 1, 2026, 11:09 AM

Sunday

But they won't be wearing masks.

Fil1957

(619 posts)

10. The Trump and Maga Republicans will do everything they can to interfere and even prevent fair

Reply to muriel_volestrangler (Original post)

Sun Feb 1, 2026, 11:19 AM

Sunday

elections this year. They also see these numbers and not only must we expect election interference but we must have plans and strategies to counter them.

They have broken too many laws and are in too deep to not try anything and everything to prevent voters from taking away their power.

Tetrachloride

(9,484 posts)

11. 50 State Strategy vs. The DNC and other Beltway Dems

Reply to muriel_volestrangler (Original post)

Sun Feb 1, 2026, 11:37 AM

Sunday

JohnnyRingo

(20,624 posts)

12. Importantly, did the republican campaign heavily on the president's name?

Reply to muriel_volestrangler (Original post)

Sun Feb 1, 2026, 11:40 AM

Sunday

If so then it's a loss for Trump, especially if he endorsed the candidate.
I doubt Trump paid attention to a state senate seat, but if the candidate loudly decried woke and touted his MAGA background it's still an omen of a hopeful midterm.

Uncle Joe

(64,505 posts)

14. Kicked and recommended

Reply to muriel_volestrangler (Original post)

Sun Feb 1, 2026, 12:07 PM

Sunday

Thanks for the thread muriel_volestrangler

turbinetree

(27,183 posts)

16. "This win goes to everyday working people," Rehmet told supporters.

Reply to muriel_volestrangler (Original post)

Sun Feb 1, 2026, 12:47 PM

Sunday

Buddyzbuddy

(2,299 posts)

17. "Let the sun shine, let the sun shine, the sun shines in"

Reply to muriel_volestrangler (Original post)

Sun Feb 1, 2026, 03:20 PM

Sunday

LetMyPeopleVote

(176,441 posts)

18. I have been active in Texas politics for a long time and I am still hoping that Texas will turn blue

Reply to muriel_volestrangler (Original post)

Sun Feb 1, 2026, 04:02 PM

Sunday

I have been following some demographic trends for a while that would indicate that Texas should turn blue. Texas is getting older and more urban. Texas was more republican that these trends would indicate in 2024 in large part because Hispanics voted for trump and the GOP in larger numbers than what one would expect. I grew up in or near the Rio Grand Valley that went for trump. I was surprised by this result.

Last night was a great result in a state senate runoff race where a Democrat won a seat by 14 percentage points that trump won by 17 percentage points.

Link to tweet

If this swing was held up nationally, Texas would be blue as would the rest of the country

Link to tweet

This race was largely symbolic in that the next time the next time the Texas legis will be in session will be after the November elections and special elections are not necessarily representative of national/regular elections.

I am encouraged by the fact that Hispanic voters in SD 9 went for the Democrat.

Link to tweet

In Texas, there is a racist tradition called sundown towns where non-whites used to have to be out of the city limits by sundown or face lynching. Vidor Texas is one such city. The democrat in this race flipped a local sundown city in this race

Link to tweet

These results are encouraging to me. I still believe that Texas will turn blue. trump's alienation of Hispanic voters should continue given the current ICE operations.

calimary

(89,270 posts)

20. I hope it's a sign of things to come!

Reply to muriel_volestrangler (Original post)

Sun Feb 1, 2026, 04:53 PM

Sunday

And THANK YOU, LetMyPeopleVote! Good stuff you posted!

LetMyPeopleVote

(176,441 posts)

24. MaddowBlog-As Dems flip a red district in Texas, Trump tries to distance himself from his own failure

Reply to muriel_volestrangler (Original post)

Mon Feb 2, 2026, 04:13 PM

Monday

The president insisted that he wasn’t “involved” in a special election in the Fort Worth area. Reality suggests otherwise.

Step 1: Trump begs voters in the Fort Worth area to back a GOP candidate in a special election in a red district.

Step 2: The Dem wins by double digits.

Step 3: Trump pretends Step 1 didnâ€™t happen. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
— Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2026-02-02T13:04:02.353Z

https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/as-dems-flip-a-red-district-in-texas-trump-tries-to-distance-himself-from-his-own-failure

There was far greater interest, however, in a state Senate special election in the suburbs of Fort Worth, Texas. A New York Times report noted last week that Republican officials worried “that even a narrow G.O.P. victory … could be a bad sign for their midterm prospects.”

The results were far from a narrow GOP victory. MS NOW reported:

Democrats flipped a seat in the Texas Senate on Saturday when Democrat Taylor Rehmet won 57% of the vote in a special election for state Senate District 9.

Rehmet, a union leader and an Air Force veteran, won the seat for the Fort Worth-area district against Republican candidate Leigh Wambsganss.

On paper, this outcome seemed wholly implausible. Donald Trump won this district by 17 points in the 2024 elections; Wambsganss heavily outspent Rehmet; the district hasn’t been competitive in three decades; and state GOP leaders, such as Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, went all out to help carry Wambsganss across the finish line in one of the nation’s largest Republican counties.

The Democratic candidate won by double digits anyway......

The outcome was obviously a difficult one for Wambsganss, the chief communications officer for Patriot Mobile, which describes itself as “America’s ONLY Christian conservative wireless provider.” But the results were also especially brutal for Donald Trump — though he was eager to pretend otherwise.

Reporter: A Democrat won a special election in Texas in an area that you won by 17 points

Trump: Iâ€™m not involved in that. Thatâ€™s a local race. I donâ€™t know anything about it. I had nothing to do with it.
— Acyn (@acyn.bsky.social) 2026-02-01T17:45:31.133Z

......Literally one day earlier, the president published the latest in a series of messages to his social media platform that read, “Today is the day! To all Voters in Texas’ 9th State Senate District: GET OUT AND VOTE for a phenomenal Candidate, Leigh Wambsganss. She is a highly successful Entrepreneur, and an incredible supporter of our Movement to, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN. You can win this Election for Leigh, who has my Complete and Total Endorsement. POLLS CLOSE AT 7 P.M. GET OUT AND VOTE FOR LEIGH WAMBSGANSS! … Leigh will NEVER let Texas, or the USA, down!”

The day before that, he also reminded local voters that he considered Wambsganss “a GREAT Candidate” who enjoyed his “Complete and Total Endorsement.”

On Saturday night, Wambsganss lost by 14 points. On midday Sunday, Trump said of the race, “Somebody ran where?” adding, “I’m not involved with that.”

He was most definitely involved with that.

LetMyPeopleVote

(176,441 posts)

25. Trump busted for denying part in GOP's Texas rout: 'He was most definitely involved'

Reply to muriel_volestrangler (Original post)

Tue Feb 3, 2026, 06:39 PM

11 hrs ago

trump is trying to deny the fact that he campaigned for and endorsed the losing candidate

Trump busted for denying part in GOP's Texas rout: 'He was most definitely involved'
— #TuckFrump (@realtuckfrumper.bsky.social) 2026-02-02T17:25:25.000Z

https://www.rawstory.com/trump-2675069239/?utm_source=front-sidebar-watch

President Donald Trump denied his involvement in a Texas special election after a major Democratic win in Texas flipped a deep red seat blue.

Since November 2025, Democrats have gained significant wins in elections, putting Republicans on edge with midterm elections on the horizon this fall, wrote MS NOW's Steve Benen, producer of “The Rachel Maddow Show," in an analysis post published Monday.

Trump has apparently attempted to distance himself from his own failures, Benen explained. Despite his public attempt to push voters to support the Republican candidate, he denied having any part in the loss......

And when Trump was asked about it the next day, he had this to say:

“'I don’t know. I didn’t hear about it,' he replied. 'Somebody ran where?' Reminded of the relevant details, Trump added, 'I’m not involved with that. That’s a local Texas race.'”

But Benen argued that wasn't the actual reality — and the staggering loss was a clear reflection on Trump's presidency.

"He was most definitely involved with that," he wrote.

Reporter: A Democrat won a special election in Texas in an area that you won by 17 points

Trump: Iâ€™m not involved in that. Thatâ€™s a local race. I donâ€™t know anything about it. I had nothing to do with it.
— Acyn (@acyn.bsky.social) 2026-02-01T17:45:31.133Z

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