Gov. Greg Abbott has set Saturday, January 31, 2026, as the date for the special election runoffs in two major Texas races, including the contest to fill the Senate District 9 seat in North Texas.
The Senate District 9 race will see Republican Leigh Wambsganss face Democrat Taylor Rehmet after the two advanced from November’s special election to succeed former Sen. Kelly Hancock, who resigned earlier this year to become acting comptroller.
The matchup is drawing attention as a Republican-versus-Democrat runoff in a normally solid red district, with Democrats hoping low turnout could give Rehmet an opening.
Whoever wins will serve out the remainder of Hancock’s current term, which runs through January 2027. The seat will be back on the ballot in November 2026, when voters will choose who will represent the district for the next full term beginning with the 2027 legislative session.
Abbott also scheduled a special election runoff for the same day in Congressional District 18, which covers parts of Houston, to replace the late Sylvester Turner. That race will pit Democrats Christian Menefee and Amanda Edwards against each other.
Early voting for both runoffs will begin January 21.
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