Fort Worth, Texas — President Donald Trump on Sunday denied involvement in a Texas special election for a state Senate seat after his endorsed Republican candidate lost in a district he carried easily in the 2024 presidential race.
One day before the runoff, Trump issued what he called a “Complete and Total Endorsement” of conservative activist Leigh Wambsganss in two Truth Social posts. Despite that backing, Wambsganss lost Saturday to Democratic candidate Taylor Rehmet in Texas State Senate District 9, a Fort Worth–area seat long considered a Republican stronghold. Trump carried the district by roughly 17 points in 2024.
When asked about the outcome, Trump initially claimed he was unaware of the race before dismissing it as a local contest. He told reporters that state legislative results are not necessarily “transferable” from presidential elections, emphasizing that his name was not on the ballot. Speaking from Mar-a-Lago in Florida, Trump said, “I’m not involved in that. That’s a local Texas race.”
Trump also used the exchange to attack Democratic leadership, repeating claims about border security and crime while praising his administration’s policies. He concluded by again distancing himself from the loss, saying he had “nothing to do with it.”
Rehmet’s victory marks a notable win for Democrats as they seek to build momentum ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The seat was previously held for more than a decade by Republican Kelly Hancock, who stepped down last year to become acting Texas comptroller. Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin called the result part of a broader trend rather than an isolated outcome.
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