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.”

  • Jumi@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    4
    arrow-down
    6
    ·
    17 hours ago

    Like that would change anything, your “Dems” are just as corrupt as your “Republicans”

    • MyMindIsLikeAnOcean@piefed.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      7
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      16 hours ago

      Not even close.

      “Sort of or mostly corrupt” v “Cartoon villain corrupt” are two different things. Better is better.

      One will pander to you sometimes, the other hates you. Choose one.

    • Soulg@ani.social
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      3
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      16 hours ago

      That’s why you replace the individuals with ones that aren’t corrupt, are you fucking stupid

      • Jumi@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        4
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        17 hours ago

        How much of this shit would have happened if they were actually against it?

        • lmmarsano@lemmynsfw.com
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          1
          ·
          2 hours ago

          All of it: most of them were actually against it. You understand a minority party ain’t got much power? Even less with their multiple factions not all voting the same? They entirely voted against the Big Beautiful Bill (senate vote & house vote). The vast majority voted to keep the shutdown (senate vote & house vote). It’s a consistent pattern.

          None of it suffices: even with the vast majority of the party opposing the administration, they lack leverage until their opposition starts defecting. Until government starts checking the administration’s illegitimate actions, it ultimately falls on the people to defy & resist them.

        • MadBits@europe.pub
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          4
          ·
          17 hours ago

          This ^, right here. Just standing there and watching it all happen while having all the authority to combat it, is exactly the same thing as siding.

        • Triasha@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          3
          ·
          16 hours ago

          Do you think we live in a democracy or a dictatorship?

          Can the tories stop labor in great Britain?

          Can the conservatives in Canada stop the liberals right now?

          What do you expect from the party we DIDN’T VOTE FOR?

          • Jumi@lemmy.world
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            1
            ·
            12 hours ago

            The US is more an oligarchy than anything else or do you actually believe you live in a democratic system?

            • Triasha@lemmy.world
              link
              fedilink
              arrow-up
              1
              ·
              8 hours ago

              Do you think the votes are rigged?

              Do you think laws can’t be passed? Did the deep state create Obamacare and pretend it was Obama and the Democrats?

              What about the chips act? The inflation reduction act? Are they pretending to pass laws?