Republicans 'Did Not Show Up' In Texas Election Won By Democrats

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Newsweek

Published Feb 03, 2026 at 06:17 AM EST updated Feb 03, 2026 at 06:18 AM EST


A GOP candidate who lost a Texas election last weekend has blamed her defeat on a low turnout of Republican voters. Conservative activist Leigh Wambsganss lost out on state Senate District 9 to her Democratic rival Taylor Rehmet, a military veteran and union leader, on Saturday. Rehmet won by more than 14 percentage points, according to The Associated Press.

Speaking on Texas radio program the Mark Davis Show Monday, Wambsganss said: "“Politics is cyclical, and the bottom line is Republicans did not show up." Newsweek reached out to the Republican Party of Texas by email on Monday for comment.

Why It Matters

The election took place in a district considered Republican after the previous state senator, Kelly Hancock, stepped down in mid-2025 to become the state's comptroller. Trump had won the district by 17 points in the November 2024 presidential election.

This sparked concern among some GOP supporters given the November midterm elections are fast approaching. The Republican Party has slim majorities in both chambers of Congress and losing the House or the Senate would upset the balance of power in Congress and make it more difficult for President Donald Trump to carry out his legislative agenda.

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/texas-senate-election-democrats-republicans-11456828

[Lovie777]

1. Republicans never think straight on why good things don't occur............

frequent lately.

Take a look at your party.

[pwb]

2. If Republicans were voting for Democrats

that is how they would say it. They never admit weakness.

[Vogon_Glory]

3. The Republican voters didn't show up? Golly Jeepers

I guess that counts as a loss! Isn’t that too darn bad!

[C_U_L8R]

4. Maybe they aren't Republicans anymore.

Who would blame them? This soreloserman apparently.

[Captain Zero]

6. Oh right, it's NOT the sore loser of 2020.

He always displaces the blame.

[Torchlight]

5. I think we'll see evidence of meaningful crossover of independents and some GOP-aligned voters

once the precinct-level and voter-registration data analysis are released.

Star Telegram (local paper) suggested that almost all of the independents and some of the Republicans voted Democratic in this contest, and lower overall turnout (special election and horrible weather- for us) magnified the influence of voters who cross typical party lines. This sort of pattern, with GOP identifiers staying home or breaking for the Democratic candidate in unusually high numbers is exactly the kind of measurable crossover/defection that bodes well for November.

I'll call it a Win, as well as calling it a Leading Indicator.

[MyOwnPeace]

7. Great insight and well-thought-out response..............

good analysis makes the victory even more enjoyable!

[Ritabert]

8. Maybe Republicans don't like current policies and that's why they stayed home

[LilElf70]

9. Low turnout? No shit.....

Gee, I wonder who they have to blame for this one.

I expect this to happen over and over and over again. I expect the answer is that 75% of ALL Americans want their democracy back. Everyone knows what has to be done.

[AverageOldGuy]

10. The Republicans who "did not show up" . . .

. . . are Republicans who cannot bring themselves to vote for a Democrat, so, they simply don't vote. Outcome is the same -- D wins, R loses.

[orangecrush]

11. Good

[Blue Full Moon]

12. Any poll showing democrats just add 20 points to it.