Trump and GOP face ‘wake-up call’ over Texas state Senate election loss
Transparency shouldn't be controversial.
Democrat Taylor Rehmet’s upset win of a Republican-held state Senate seat in ruby-red Texas is stoking GOP fears that Republicans could lose a chamber of Congress in November without President Donald Trump on the ballot.
Rehmet won the open Texas Senate District 9 seat, which covers the Fort Worth area, by 14 percentage points, more than a year after Trump won the district by 17 points in 2024 — a 31-point swing.
Trump refused to take responsibility for the loss, telling reporters on Sunday that “I’m not involved in that. That’s a local Texas race” despite previously urging Texans to vote for a “phenomenal Candidate” Leigh Wambsganss.
“I didn’t hear about it,” he also said. “You mean I won by 17, and this person lost? Things like that happen.” The president claimed that the results were not transferable because he was not on the ballot.
But Republicans are not following Trump’s lead of downplaying the significance of the loss.
“The results from SD 9 are a wake-up call for Republicans across Texas,” Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick wrote on social media. “Our voters cannot take anything for granted.”
“The alarm bell went off again, and Republicans would be foolish to ignore it,” GOP strategist Dennis Lennox told the Washington Examiner. “The lesson is straightforward: November will be decided by turnout.”
“It’s time to hit the panic button,” Jason Roe, a Republican strategist who has worked on presidential campaigns, said bluntly. “The time for spin is over. On the Democratic side … they are furious. And we continue to hemorrhage voters who voted for Trump a little over a year ago. And if something significant doesn’t happen, we’re going to get slaughtered.”
Yet some Republicans did caution that the race was not as consequential as some believe. “It’s noteworthy but not cause for concern,” national GOP strategist Brian Seitchik said.
Seitchik claimed that most voters were not aware of the special election due to the upcoming Texas Senate primary next month. Although Seitchik added, “I’m not going to pretend that this is good news, but it is certainly not evidence that the sky is falling.”
Democrats, however, boasted that “no Republican seat is safe” in the aftermath of Rehmet’s win.
“It’s clear as day that this disastrous Republican agenda is hurting working families in Texas and across the country, which is why voters in red, blue, and purple districts are putting their faith in candidates like Taylor Rehmet,” Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken …
Transparency shouldn't be controversial.
Democrat Taylor Rehmet’s upset win of a Republican-held state Senate seat in ruby-red Texas is stoking GOP fears that Republicans could lose a chamber of Congress in November without President Donald Trump on the ballot.
Rehmet won the open Texas Senate District 9 seat, which covers the Fort Worth area, by 14 percentage points, more than a year after Trump won the district by 17 points in 2024 — a 31-point swing.
Trump refused to take responsibility for the loss, telling reporters on Sunday that “I’m not involved in that. That’s a local Texas race” despite previously urging Texans to vote for a “phenomenal Candidate” Leigh Wambsganss.
“I didn’t hear about it,” he also said. “You mean I won by 17, and this person lost? Things like that happen.” The president claimed that the results were not transferable because he was not on the ballot.
But Republicans are not following Trump’s lead of downplaying the significance of the loss.
“The results from SD 9 are a wake-up call for Republicans across Texas,” Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick wrote on social media. “Our voters cannot take anything for granted.”
“The alarm bell went off again, and Republicans would be foolish to ignore it,” GOP strategist Dennis Lennox told the Washington Examiner. “The lesson is straightforward: November will be decided by turnout.”
“It’s time to hit the panic button,” Jason Roe, a Republican strategist who has worked on presidential campaigns, said bluntly. “The time for spin is over. On the Democratic side … they are furious. And we continue to hemorrhage voters who voted for Trump a little over a year ago. And if something significant doesn’t happen, we’re going to get slaughtered.”
Yet some Republicans did caution that the race was not as consequential as some believe. “It’s noteworthy but not cause for concern,” national GOP strategist Brian Seitchik said.
Seitchik claimed that most voters were not aware of the special election due to the upcoming Texas Senate primary next month. Although Seitchik added, “I’m not going to pretend that this is good news, but it is certainly not evidence that the sky is falling.”
Democrats, however, boasted that “no Republican seat is safe” in the aftermath of Rehmet’s win.
“It’s clear as day that this disastrous Republican agenda is hurting working families in Texas and across the country, which is why voters in red, blue, and purple districts are putting their faith in candidates like Taylor Rehmet,” Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken …
Trump and GOP face ‘wake-up call’ over Texas state Senate election loss
Transparency shouldn't be controversial.
Democrat Taylor Rehmet’s upset win of a Republican-held state Senate seat in ruby-red Texas is stoking GOP fears that Republicans could lose a chamber of Congress in November without President Donald Trump on the ballot.
Rehmet won the open Texas Senate District 9 seat, which covers the Fort Worth area, by 14 percentage points, more than a year after Trump won the district by 17 points in 2024 — a 31-point swing.
Trump refused to take responsibility for the loss, telling reporters on Sunday that “I’m not involved in that. That’s a local Texas race” despite previously urging Texans to vote for a “phenomenal Candidate” Leigh Wambsganss.
“I didn’t hear about it,” he also said. “You mean I won by 17, and this person lost? Things like that happen.” The president claimed that the results were not transferable because he was not on the ballot.
But Republicans are not following Trump’s lead of downplaying the significance of the loss.
“The results from SD 9 are a wake-up call for Republicans across Texas,” Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick wrote on social media. “Our voters cannot take anything for granted.”
“The alarm bell went off again, and Republicans would be foolish to ignore it,” GOP strategist Dennis Lennox told the Washington Examiner. “The lesson is straightforward: November will be decided by turnout.”
“It’s time to hit the panic button,” Jason Roe, a Republican strategist who has worked on presidential campaigns, said bluntly. “The time for spin is over. On the Democratic side … they are furious. And we continue to hemorrhage voters who voted for Trump a little over a year ago. And if something significant doesn’t happen, we’re going to get slaughtered.”
Yet some Republicans did caution that the race was not as consequential as some believe. “It’s noteworthy but not cause for concern,” national GOP strategist Brian Seitchik said.
Seitchik claimed that most voters were not aware of the special election due to the upcoming Texas Senate primary next month. Although Seitchik added, “I’m not going to pretend that this is good news, but it is certainly not evidence that the sky is falling.”
Democrats, however, boasted that “no Republican seat is safe” in the aftermath of Rehmet’s win.
“It’s clear as day that this disastrous Republican agenda is hurting working families in Texas and across the country, which is why voters in red, blue, and purple districts are putting their faith in candidates like Taylor Rehmet,” Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken …
0 Comments
0 Shares
30 Views
0 Reviews
