Democrats scored a stunning upset on Saturday in a special election runoff for Texas Senate, according to a projection from Decision Desk HQ, giving the party a major boost ahead of the November midterms.

Fort Worth Democrat Taylor Rehmet, a machinist and Air Force veteran, defeated Southlake Republican Leigh Wambsganss to fill the vacant state Senate District 9.

The district favored Trump — who endorsed Wambsganss earlier on Saturday — by 17 points in 2024. The race went to a runoff after none of the candidates were able to clinch a majority in the November election.

Rehmet’s overperformance in the fall stoked concerns for the GOP, and a number of prominent party leaders, including Gov. Greg Abbott ®, intervened in the race in an effort to boost Wambsganss.

    • Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world
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      12 days ago

      Imagine that. People will vote when they have someone worth voting for.

      Progressives have been trying to tell centrists this for decades.

        • Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world
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          11 days ago

          Wonder where all the “progressives can’t win in red states” jerks who just don’t want progressives to be allowed to run anywhere under any circumstances ever went to.

          • CmdrShepard49@sh.itjust.works
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            11 days ago

            That’s a great question but now is not the time to think about anything. Just do as I say and when my plan blows up in our faces, I’ll blame you for it.

  • glimse@lemmy.world
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    12 days ago

    Wambsganss

    I know this is a fantasy setting but is the writer even trying with these names?

  • magnetosphere@fedia.io
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    12 days ago

    The seat opened up after Republican state Sen. Kelly Hancock was tapped as acting state comptroller.

    So, the problem was created by overreaching Republicans. They shot themselves in the foot. I absolutely love it.

  • LifeInMultipleChoice@lemmy.world
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    12 days ago

    25-13 Republicans - Democrats in Texas congress members… maybe 24-14 now.

    Hate to be the downer but that would mean 63% of Texas believes Facism is fine

    • TheRealKuni@piefed.social
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      12 days ago

      Most elections are not in odd years.

      This was an election because they pulled the Republican senator from the district and appointed him to a position believing the district, which went to Trump by 17 points in 2024, was safe.

      It went to Rehmet by 14.4 points. That’s a 31.4 point swing.

      I think what we’re seeing is that a lot of people refused to see the fascism, and are finally starting to wake up.

    • Mantzy81@aussie.zone
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      12 days ago

      This was a special election for one seat. Wait till a proper election like midterms to see an actual review

    • protist@mander.xyz
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      12 days ago

      Not only was this a single special election rather than a statewide vote, but the numbers you cite are wrong because this was for a Texas State Senate seat, not a US House seat

      • Pungent Llama@lemmy.world
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        11 days ago

        I sort of wanted the TX gerrymandering attemp to go through. It would mean every district could be just a bit tighter in margin and its possible if enough people switch parties, it can flip many seats in TX.