Texas Democrat Taylor Rehmet flips Republican state Senate district Donald Trump received by 17 factors

Democrat Taylor Rehmet flipped a reliably Republican state Senate district in Texas in Saturday’s particular election, persevering with a string of shock victories for Democrats throughout the U.S. within the 12 months since President Donald Trump returned to the White Home.

Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick known as it “a wake-up name for Republicans throughout Texas,” the place the GOP controls each statewide workplace.

“Our voters can not take something without any consideration,” Patrick wrote on the social platform X, whereas noting low-turnout particular elections are all the time unpredictable. “I do know the power and energy the Republican grassroots in Texas possess. We’ll come out combating with a brand new resolve, and we are going to take this seat again in November.”

Rehmet, a labor union chief and veteran, simply defeated Republican Leigh Wambsganss, a conservative activist, within the Fort Price-area district, which the Republican Trump had received by 17 factors in 2024. With virtually all votes counted, Rehmet was main by greater than 14 share factors – a greater than 30 level swing.

“This win goes to on a regular basis working folks,” Rehmet instructed supporters.

Rehmet’s victory added to Democrats’ document of overperforming in particular elections thus far this cycle, starting in March – once they prevailed in a Pennsylvania legislative district made up of suburbanites and farmers that Democrats hadn’t held in a century – and persevering with via to November, once they dominated candidate and poll contests from Maine to California.

And Zohran Mamdani, an unapologetic Democratic Socialist, was elected mayor of New York Metropolis, a Democratic stronghold that noticed the best voter turnout in a mayor’s race in 50 years.

The showings come as Trump’s approval rankings with the general public maintain regular at round 40%. A January AP-NORC ballot discovered {that a} majority of U.S. adults disapprove of the best way he is dealing with overseas coverage, commerce negotiations and immigration, in addition to the financial system.

Democrats stated Saturday’s ends in Texas had been additional proof that voters beneath the second Trump administration are motivated to reject GOP candidates and their insurance policies.

Texas Democratic Occasion Chair Kendall Scudder stated Rehmet received by standing with working folks and speaking to Texans concerning the future.

“This win reveals what is feasible in Texas with sturdy organizing, nice candidates and strategic investments,” he stated in an announcement. “Persons are noticing that Democrats have the employees’ backs and are delivering outcomes.”

Democrats’ different state victories since 2025 included wins for governor in Virginia and New Jersey and in particular elections in Kentucky and Iowa. And, whereas Republican Matt Van Epps received a Tennessee particular election for a U.S. Home seat, the comparatively slim margin of victory gave Democrats hope for this fall’s midterms.

With that backdrop in thoughts, Trump and Vice President JD Vance have pushed states to redraw their political maps to Republicans’ benefit headed into these contests, which can decide partisan management in Washington. Some Democratic states – most notably California – have pushed again with their very own redistricting efforts.

The Texas Senate seat was open as a result of the four-term GOP incumbent, Kelly Hancock, resigned to take a statewide workplace. Hancock simply received election every time he ran for the workplace, and Republicans have held the seat for many years.

The district is redder than its dwelling, Tarrant County. Trump received the county by 5 factors in 2024, however Democratic President Joe Biden carried it in 2020 by about 1,800 votes out of greater than 834,000 solid.

Trump posted concerning the race on his social media platform earlier Saturday, urging voters to get out to assist Wambsganss. He known as her a profitable entrepreneur and “an unbelievable supporter” of his Make America Nice Once more motion.

However Rehmet had assist from nationwide organizations, together with the DNC and VoteVets, a veterans group that stated it spent $500,000 on advertisements. Rehmet, who served within the Air Drive and works as a machinist, targeted on reducing prices, supporting public schooling and defending jobs.

Wambsganss warned her social gathering to not be complacent.

“The Democrats had been energized,” she stated in an announcement. “Too many Republicans stayed dwelling.”.

Rehmet’s victory permits him to serve solely till early January, and he’ll face Wambganss once more within the November common election to maintain the seat for a full four-year time period. The Texas Legislature just isn’t set to reconvene till 2027, and the GOP nonetheless may have a snug majority.