January 31, 2026
Democrat Taylor Rehmet shocks GOP with 32-point swing in ruby-red Texas district Trump won by 17 points
Union leader's public schools message overcomes 6-to-1 spending disadvantage in Tarrant County upset
🏛️Government
Taylor Rehmet won the Texas Senate District 9 special election on Jan. 31, 2026, with 57% of the vote. Republican Leigh Wambsganss received 43%. The Fort Worth-area district went for Trump by 17 points in the 2024 presidential election, making the Democratic flip a 32-point swing.
Rehmet is a machinist union leader and Air Force veteran running his first campaign. He was outspent nearly 6-to-1, raising $400,000 compared to Wambsganss's $2.5 million. Despite the funding disadvantage, his working-class appeal and public schools message resonated with voters.
Public school funding was the central issue. Rehmet campaigned on increasing teacher pay and reducing class sizes. Wambsganss is chief communications officer for Patriot Mobile, a company that helped back Christian conservative school board candidates who overhauled libraries and curricula across Texas.
Governor Abbott signed a $1 billion school voucher program (SB 2) in May 2025, giving families ~$10,000 for private school tuition. Texas ranks 38th in per-student funding. Abbott had held $7.6 billion in school funding hostage when vouchers initially failed to pass.
The Tarrant County GOP executive committee rejected a pro-voucher resolution in March 2025, showing deep local Republican division over education policy. Conservative parents, including some Republicans, opposed vouchers as government overreach.
Trump posted three endorsements of Wambsganss on social media in the final 48 hours before the election. When reporters asked Trump about the loss, he said 'I do not know, I did not hear about it. Somebody ran? Where?' After being told it was District 9, Trump claimed he was not involved despite his endorsements.
The upset triggered Republican alarm about 2026 midterm vulnerabilities. Former Trump press secretary Sean Spicer called it 'a big deal.' NBC News reported the win 'casts a pall over GOP plans to keep the House.' The result added to a pattern of Democratic overperformance in special elections.
🏛️Government
People, bills, and sources
Taylor Rehmet
Democratic candidate and winner of Texas Senate District 9 special election
Leigh Wambsganss
Republican candidate for Texas Senate District 9
Donald Trump
President of the United States
Greg Abbott
Governor of Texas
Kelly Hancock
Former Republican Texas State Senator who vacated District 9
Sean Spicer
Former Trump White House Press Secretary
Hollie Plemons
Fort Worth parent and conservative Republican education advocate
What you can do
1
phone call
Demand Texas legislators restore $7.6 billion in public school funding Abbott held hostage for vouchers
Governor Abbott withheld $7.6 billion in public school funding when the legislature initially rejected his voucher program. Texas now ranks 38th in per-student funding while spending $1 billion on vouchers. Call your state legislators to demand they prioritize public school funding over private school subsidies.
Hello, I am [NAME] from [DISTRICT] in [STATE].\n\nI am calling to urge [REPRESENTATIVE_TITLE] [REPRESENTATIVE] to prioritize public school funding over private school vouchers.\n\nSpecific request: Please introduce legislation to restore the $7.6 billion in public school funding that Governor Abbott withheld when vouchers initially failed.\n\nWhy this matters: Texas ranks 38th in per-student public school funding, yet we're spending $1 billion on vouchers. Taylor Rehmet just flipped a ruby-red Senate district because voters in [LOCATION] care more about funding their neighborhood schools than subsidizing private education.\n\nThank you for your time.
2
Demand accountability measures for private schools receiving $1 billion in Texas voucher funds
Texas's voucher program lacks oversight mechanisms that apply to public schools. Private schools receiving taxpayer funds face no requirements for academic standards, teacher qualifications, or financial transparency. Contact the Texas Education Agency to demand accountability.
Hello, I am [NAME], a [STATE] resident concerned about accountability in the school voucher program.\n\nRequest: Please implement accountability measures for private schools receiving $1 billion in taxpayer funds, including:\n- Academic performance standards\n- Teacher qualification requirements \n- Financial transparency reporting\n- Civil rights protections\n\nWhy this matters: Public schools in [LOCATION] face strict accountability requirements, yet private schools receiving vouchers have none. Arizona's voucher program faces backlash over lack of oversight. Texas should learn from that mistake.\n\nThank you.
3
civic awareness
Research whether Patriot Mobile is funding school board candidates in your district
Patriot Mobile, Leigh Wambsganss's employer, helped elect Christian conservative candidates to 11 school board seats across 4 Texas boards. These candidates overhauled libraries and curricula. The company's political activity in education became a liability in the District 9 race. Check if they're active in your area.
Hello, I am [NAME] from [DISTRICT].\n\nI'm researching school board candidate funding sources for upcoming elections.\n\nRequest: Can you provide information about:\n- Current school board candidates and their funding sources\n- Any organizations supporting multiple candidates\n- Public records of campaign contributions\n\nWhy I'm asking: Patriot Mobile funded Christian conservative school board candidates across Texas who overhauled libraries and curricula. This became a major issue in the recent Texas Senate District 9 special election. I want to know if similar outside funding is affecting races in [LOCATION].\n\nThank you.
4
civic awareness
Monitor upcoming special elections in Trump-won districts to predict 2026 midterm trends
Special elections have historically predicted midterm outcomes. In 2017, Democrats overperformed by 16 points on average before the 2018 blue wave. The Texas District 9 result (32-point swing) suggests similar patterns may be emerging for 2026. Track races in your state.