Taylor Rehmet, a union leader and Air Force veteran, topped the field in Tuesday’s special election for Texas Senate District 9 and forced a one-on-one runoff with Republican Leigh Wambsganss. In a district long viewed as safely Republican, Rehmet’s showing has drawn fresh attention to suburban turnout and what it could mean for 2026.
Election night numbers
With all precincts reporting, no candidate reached the 50% threshold required to win outright, so the top two finishers will advance to a runoff. According to Community Impact, Rehmet received 56,506 votes (47.56%), Wambsganss earned 47,712 (35.59%), and former Southlake mayor John Huffman tallied roughly 19,591 (16.49%). Countywide turnout on Nov. 4 was about 17.4% of registered voters, the outlet reported.
Why the finish is notable
The result stood out because Senate District 9 has voted solidly Republican in recent cycles and was drawn with a GOP advantage. The Texas Tribune noted Rehmet’s performance came despite being heavily outspent — opponents and allied groups poured seven figures into the fight — and despite Wambsganss arriving with high-profile conservative endorsements.
Reaction on the ground
Supporters at Rehmet’s watch party reacted enthusiastically to the night’s returns. One moment captured by local reporting showed him telling the crowd, "But we know we're going to win," according to Community Impact. Wambsganss, who drew endorsements from national and state conservatives, told The Texas Tribune she expected Republican voters to consolidate behind her in the head-to-head runoff.
What comes next
The top two finishers will meet again in a runoff to decide who will serve out the remainder of the term for SD-9; officials will set the runoff date under state rules. As reported by Spectrum News, the winner will complete the term through the end of 2026, and both campaigns have signaled plans to press their outreach into the runoff.
Strategists say the race will be watched closely as a test of suburban dynamics heading into next year’s cycle, and both parties will be studying turnout pockets from Tuesday. For official tallies, runoff notices, and canvass information, see the Tarrant County Elections website.
