MicroWaveFeb 1

‘Earthquake of biblical proportions’ as Democrat flips deep-red Texas State Senate seat

https://lemmy.world/post/42514180

‘Earthquake of biblical proportions’ as Democrat flips deep-red Texas State Senate seat - Lemmy.World

In a speech before cheering supporters, Democrat Taylor Rehmet dedicated his victory “to everyday working people.” Democrats scored a major upset on Saturday, as machinist union leader Taylor Rehmet easily defeated Republican opponent Leigh Wambsganss in a state senate special election held in a deep-red district that Donald Trump carried by 17 percentage points in 2024. With nearly all votes counted, Rehmet holds a 14-point lead in Texas’ Senate District 9, which covers a large portion of Tarrant County. Republican opponent Wambsganss conceded defeat in the race but vowed to win an upcoming rematch in November. “The dynamics of a special election are fundamentally different from a November general election,” Wambsganss said. “I believe the voters of Senate District 9 and Tarrant County Republicans will answer the call in November.”

Show threadHellsBelleFeb 1

Republican opponent Wambsganss conceded defeat in the race but vowed to win an upcoming rematch in November.

Rematch??

Show threadTryingSomethingNewFeb 1

This was a special election to fill a spot. The prior person (Kelly Hancock) quit to become state comptroller. These two will be running in the fall, though I wonder if the groups (including some with ties to white nationalism) that spent $2.5m on her will do so again in the fall. He raised $380k, mostly small donors.

Fun fact - Texas senate doesn’t meet this year, so he might not have a ton to do before the next election, but he’ll run as an incumbent, will be getting ready for next year’s session, and it’s also a nice pants-shitting moment for the Tarrant county Republican Party which is already in the midst of a party purity jihad.

(Seriously, they’re suing and being sued by other republicans about being removed from republican primaries, as well as suing to have democrats removed from Democrat primaries)

Show threadvortic
The hell? The Texas senate only meets for 140 days in odd years? How do they get anything done?
Feb 1 at 10:14pmWeb
Show threadTryingSomethingNewFeb 1

It’s even crazier than that. If I remember right, every single law is a change to the Texas constitution.

There is also a saying that we would be better off if it were held for two days every 140 years. And there have been some bills that have died (DMCA, IIRC) because they couldn’t get through committee in time, so the “have to be passed this year” had to wait 2 more years.

But they can and will call “special session” for the sorriest of reasons.