<p>Democrat Taylor Rehmet stunned Texas politics by winning the special runoff for State Senate District 9 on January 31, 2026, defeating Republican Leigh Wambsganss roughly 57 to 43 percent in a district President Trump carried by about 17 points in 2024. (<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2025/11/04/texas-senate-district-9-special-election-tarrant-county/?utm_source=openai">texastribune.org</a>) Trump had posted a Truth Social endorsement for Wambsganss on January 30, 2026, urging “America First Patriots” to get out and vote for her. (<a href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/republicans-panic-after-dem-wins-in-deep-red-district/?utm_source=openai">thedailybeast.com</a>) Yet on February 1 at Mar‑a‑Lago he told reporters he “didn’t know a thing” about the race and claimed no involvement, prompting critics to accuse him of dissembling or to suggest evidence of cognitive decline. (<a href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-79-claims-no-memory-of-part-in-humiliating-texas-gop-defeat//?utm_source=openai">thedailybeast.com</a>)</p>

Democrat Taylor Rehmet stunned Texas politics by winning the special runoff for State Senate District 9 on January 31, 2026, defeating Republican Leigh Wambsganss roughly 57 to 43 percent in a district President Trump carried by about 17 points in 2024. (texastribune.org) Trump had posted a Truth Social endorsement for Wambsganss on January 30, 2026, urging “America First Patriots” to get out and vote for her. (thedailybeast.com) Yet on February 1 at Mar‑a‑Lago he told reporters he “didn’t know a thing” about the race and claimed no involvement, prompting critics to accuse him of dissembling or to suggest evidence of cognitive decline. (thedailybeast.com)

Breaking: Democrat Taylor Rehmet shocked Texas, winning Jan. 31 SD‑9 runoff 57–43 over Trump‑backed Leigh Wambsganss in a district Trump won by 17 points. Trump then said he "didn't know."…