Republicans 'Did Not Show Up' In Texas Election Won By Democrats [View all]
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
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