Overview
- Rehmet defeated Republican Leigh Wambsganss roughly 57% to 43% in Texas Senate District 9, which Trump carried by about 17 points in 2024.
- The seat covers nearly 1 million residents, and it will be the first time since the early 1980s that a Democrat represents northern Tarrant County in the state Senate.
- Trump promoted Wambsganss with multiple social posts, yet Democratic performance improved from early voting to Election Day, according to county results.
- Wambsganss raised more than $2.5 million compared with under $400,000 for Rehmet, underscoring the scale of the upset.
- Fewer than 100,000 ballots were cast in the Saturday runoff conducted during cold weather, and party leaders cast the outcome as significant while noting special-election limits.