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Texas Senate Win Signals Decline of Trump's Influence

2/5/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Taylor Rehmet (D) won the Texas Senate District 9 special election by 14 points.
U.S. President Donald Trump endorsed Leigh Wambsganss and later said he was uninvolved.
Analysts say the loss reflects poorly on Trump's influence and raises questions about the effectiveness of his endorsements.
The outcome signals a worrying trend for Republicans as Democrats continue to gain ground in special elections.

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Story summary

Taylor Rehmet (D) won the Texas Senate District 9 special election by 14 points.
U.S. President Donald Trump endorsed Leigh Wambsganss and later said he was uninvolved.
Analysts say the loss reflects poorly on Trump's influence and raises questions about the effectiveness of his endorsements.
The outcome signals a worrying trend for Republicans as Democrats continue to gain ground in special elections.