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Air Force Veteran Upsets Republican in Texas Senate Race

2/5/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Taylor Rehmet, a 33-year-old Air Force veteran and union leader, won a Texas State Senate seat by 14 percentage points against the Republican candidate.
Raised in a Republican household, Rehmet shifted to the Democratic Party after union benefits in his factory job.
The district that U.S. President Donald Trump carried by more than 17 points in 2024 underscores a growing trend of working-class candidates gaining traction for the Democratic Party.

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Story summary

Taylor Rehmet, a 33-year-old Air Force veteran and union leader, won a Texas State Senate seat by 14 percentage points against the Republican candidate.
Raised in a Republican household, Rehmet shifted to the Democratic Party after union benefits in his factory job.
The district that U.S. President Donald Trump carried by more than 17 points in 2024 underscores a growing trend of working-class candidates gaining traction for the Democratic Party.