Overview
- Rehmet, a union machinist and Air Force veteran, defeated Republican Leigh Wambsganss 57% to 43% in Tarrant County’s District 9, which Trump carried by about 17 points in 2024.
- Trump endorsed Wambsganss in late posts but later downplayed the loss, while Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Wambsganss called the result a wake-up call for Republicans.
- National Democrats backed Rehmet, with the DNC involved and VoteVets saying it spent about $500,000 on advertising.
- The seat, vacated by four-term Republican Kelly Hancock, is filled only through early January, with a likely rematch in November to decide the full four-year term.
- Turnout was under 100,000 in the Saturday runoff, and Democrats cited the victory as further evidence of their recent special-election overperformance.