Republican 'wake-up call': Special election shocker highlights GOP turnout and midterm risks
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A stunning setback for Republicans at the ballot box in a ruby red part of right-leaning Texas has some saying the defeat was a "wake-up call" for the GOP ahead of this year's midterm elections, when the party is defending its narrow congressional majorities.
The double-digit shellacking, in a special state Senate election this past weekend in a Fort Worth area district that President Donald Trump won by 17 points in 2024, comes amid backlash over the Trump administration's unprecedented crackdown on illegal immigration and, as the latest polling indicates, the president and his party are well underwater.
The Democrats' victory, their latest win or over performance in a slew of special elections since Trump returned to power in the White House a year ago, is further energizing them as they work to win back control of the House and possibly the Senate.
"It’s clearly a wake-up call for Republicans," longtime Texas-based Republican strategist Brendan Steinhauser told Fox News Digital.
AFFORDABILITY: THE ISSUE THAT BOOSTED TRUMP AND REPUBLICANS IN 2024 DEFLATED THEM IN 2025
And he warned that the results in Saturday's special election to fill a vacant GOP-controlled seat in state Senate District 9 "does show that Democrats are energized and Republicans did not turn out in the numbers they should have."
"If Democrats can win this seat, it puts a lot of other seats in play," Steinhauser warned.
But as of now, Republican sources involved in midterm messaging tell Fox News Digital that while they're not discounting the Democrats' victories, there's no talk right now of a wholesale revamping of the GOP's playbook.
In Texas, Machinist and Air Force veteran Taylor Rehmet topped Republican Leigh Wambsganss by roughly 14 points in Saturday's runoff election, despite Republicans dramatically outspending Democrats in the race, along with support from top Republicans including Gov. Greg Abbott and a last-minute endorsement and a social media push by Trump.
2025 SHOCKERS: THE BIGGEST MOMENTS THAT ROCKED THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL
This is the first time the seat, in the northern part of Fort Worth anchored Tarrant County, has been represented by a Democrat in four decades.
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) called it a "Shockwave Victory" and highlighted that "Democrats have now flipped 26 state legislative seats since Trump retook office, while Republicans have flipped zero."
The results of special elections are often over-hyped and are not always the best indicator or barometer of things to come. But regardless, Republicans aren't trying to sugarcoat the results.
Texas …
Why resist verification?
A stunning setback for Republicans at the ballot box in a ruby red part of right-leaning Texas has some saying the defeat was a "wake-up call" for the GOP ahead of this year's midterm elections, when the party is defending its narrow congressional majorities.
The double-digit shellacking, in a special state Senate election this past weekend in a Fort Worth area district that President Donald Trump won by 17 points in 2024, comes amid backlash over the Trump administration's unprecedented crackdown on illegal immigration and, as the latest polling indicates, the president and his party are well underwater.
The Democrats' victory, their latest win or over performance in a slew of special elections since Trump returned to power in the White House a year ago, is further energizing them as they work to win back control of the House and possibly the Senate.
"It’s clearly a wake-up call for Republicans," longtime Texas-based Republican strategist Brendan Steinhauser told Fox News Digital.
AFFORDABILITY: THE ISSUE THAT BOOSTED TRUMP AND REPUBLICANS IN 2024 DEFLATED THEM IN 2025
And he warned that the results in Saturday's special election to fill a vacant GOP-controlled seat in state Senate District 9 "does show that Democrats are energized and Republicans did not turn out in the numbers they should have."
"If Democrats can win this seat, it puts a lot of other seats in play," Steinhauser warned.
But as of now, Republican sources involved in midterm messaging tell Fox News Digital that while they're not discounting the Democrats' victories, there's no talk right now of a wholesale revamping of the GOP's playbook.
In Texas, Machinist and Air Force veteran Taylor Rehmet topped Republican Leigh Wambsganss by roughly 14 points in Saturday's runoff election, despite Republicans dramatically outspending Democrats in the race, along with support from top Republicans including Gov. Greg Abbott and a last-minute endorsement and a social media push by Trump.
2025 SHOCKERS: THE BIGGEST MOMENTS THAT ROCKED THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL
This is the first time the seat, in the northern part of Fort Worth anchored Tarrant County, has been represented by a Democrat in four decades.
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) called it a "Shockwave Victory" and highlighted that "Democrats have now flipped 26 state legislative seats since Trump retook office, while Republicans have flipped zero."
The results of special elections are often over-hyped and are not always the best indicator or barometer of things to come. But regardless, Republicans aren't trying to sugarcoat the results.
Texas …
Republican 'wake-up call': Special election shocker highlights GOP turnout and midterm risks
Why resist verification?
A stunning setback for Republicans at the ballot box in a ruby red part of right-leaning Texas has some saying the defeat was a "wake-up call" for the GOP ahead of this year's midterm elections, when the party is defending its narrow congressional majorities.
The double-digit shellacking, in a special state Senate election this past weekend in a Fort Worth area district that President Donald Trump won by 17 points in 2024, comes amid backlash over the Trump administration's unprecedented crackdown on illegal immigration and, as the latest polling indicates, the president and his party are well underwater.
The Democrats' victory, their latest win or over performance in a slew of special elections since Trump returned to power in the White House a year ago, is further energizing them as they work to win back control of the House and possibly the Senate.
"It’s clearly a wake-up call for Republicans," longtime Texas-based Republican strategist Brendan Steinhauser told Fox News Digital.
AFFORDABILITY: THE ISSUE THAT BOOSTED TRUMP AND REPUBLICANS IN 2024 DEFLATED THEM IN 2025
And he warned that the results in Saturday's special election to fill a vacant GOP-controlled seat in state Senate District 9 "does show that Democrats are energized and Republicans did not turn out in the numbers they should have."
"If Democrats can win this seat, it puts a lot of other seats in play," Steinhauser warned.
But as of now, Republican sources involved in midterm messaging tell Fox News Digital that while they're not discounting the Democrats' victories, there's no talk right now of a wholesale revamping of the GOP's playbook.
In Texas, Machinist and Air Force veteran Taylor Rehmet topped Republican Leigh Wambsganss by roughly 14 points in Saturday's runoff election, despite Republicans dramatically outspending Democrats in the race, along with support from top Republicans including Gov. Greg Abbott and a last-minute endorsement and a social media push by Trump.
2025 SHOCKERS: THE BIGGEST MOMENTS THAT ROCKED THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL
This is the first time the seat, in the northern part of Fort Worth anchored Tarrant County, has been represented by a Democrat in four decades.
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) called it a "Shockwave Victory" and highlighted that "Democrats have now flipped 26 state legislative seats since Trump retook office, while Republicans have flipped zero."
The results of special elections are often over-hyped and are not always the best indicator or barometer of things to come. But regardless, Republicans aren't trying to sugarcoat the results.
Texas …
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