Republican activist Leigh Wambsganss and Democrat union leader Taylor Rehmet appear to be advancing to a runoff in the special election for Texas Senate District 9, as of publication.
Former Southlake Mayor John Huffman finished a distant third.
The race was held to fill the remainder of the term left vacant by former Sen. Kelly Hancock, who resigned earlier this year to become acting comptroller. The district covers a portion of northern Tarrant County.
Much of the contest centered around the influence of casino money in Texas politics. Huffman’s campaign received hundreds of thousands of dollars from the Texas Sands PAC, the political arm of Las Vegas Sands. Owned by billionaire Miriam Adelson, the Sands group has poured millions into Texas races in recent years as part of its push to legalize casino gambling in the state.
Huffman said he supported letting voters decide the issue through a statewide referendum, while Wambsganss positioned herself firmly against expanding gambling. She called it a “detrimental influence on families and communities” and warned voters about the casino industry’s growing political presence.
Notably, Wambsganss also carried the endorsement of President Donald Trump and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.
“The conservative voters of SD9 have spoken clearly and distinctly. They want to send a conservative patriot to Austin to represent them,” Wambsganss said Tuesday night.
With no candidate reaching a majority, the contest now heads to a runoff election between Wambsganss and Rehmet. The winner will serve out the remainder of Hancock’s term.
But the political battle for Senate District 9 won’t end there. The seat will be back on the ballot again next year, with a Republican primary, Democrat primary, and general election in November 2026 to determine who will hold the position for the next full four-year term beginning in 2027.
“This is just the first leg of the race,” said Wambsganss. “So while I celebrate the win tonight, I’ll lace up my running shoes and begin the next leg of this journey.”
