Who is Taylor Rehmet, the Fort Worth Democrat who flipped a TX state Senate seat?
Democrat Taylor Rehmet won Senate District 9 on Saturday, a solidly red seat that covers northern and western Tarrant County.
Rehmet won the runoff for the Kelly Hancock’s unexpired term 57.20% of the vote. Republican Leigh Wambsganss received 42.80%.
The union leader and aircraft mechanic has received national attention since advancing from the first round of voting in November as the leading candidate. Rehmet won 48% of votes at the time, but without getting more than half, the race went into a runoff against Wambsganss.
Wambsganss, a conservative activist with ties to the influential Patriot Mobile, had endorsements from President Donald Trump and other prominent Republicans in the Republican-leaning districts and more money to fuel her bid.
Rehmet and Wambsganss will face off again in the November general election as they vie for a full four year term.
So who is Taylor Rehmet? Here’s what to know.
Taylor Rehmet’s North Texas roots
Rehmet now lives in Fort Worth, but he’s a Garland native and attended Garland High School.
Rehmet grew up in a working-class family, according to his campaign website biography. His dad, like Rehmet, was an aircraft mechanic and his mom worked at a salon.
This is his first time running for elected office. The 33-year-old will be the youngest member of the Texas Senate.
From the Air Force to a Union man
Rehmet joined the U.S. Airforce when he was 19, and served four years of active duty in Minot, North Dakota, Rehmet told attendees of a Jan. 16 campaign event in Fort Worth. While there, he served as an electrical and environmental systems specialist.
When he returned to Texas, Rehmet said he missed aviation and was able to find a job in Fort Worth. He has worked as an aircraft technician at Lockheed Martin since 2017.
“For the first time at my job, I had a union contract,” he said at the campaign event. “And I was so grateful for this union contract that I wanted to give back, and I got involved. I got active.”
Rehmet now serves as the president of the state and a local chapter of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Union.
A platform built around the working person
Taylor Rehmet has built his campaign around being an advocate for the working class person, advocating for affordability-related policies to address issues like rising property taxes, rent, housing costs, insurance rates and grocery bills.
“I’m running for Texas Senate District 9 because a state as strong as Texas should work for the people who make it strong,” Rehmet said in his candidate questionnaire. “Today, too many working families are priced out, ignored, and dismissed while the Legislature bends to wealthy interests and partisan extremes. I believe Texas can be affordable, fair, and rooted in common sense but not without leaders willing to fight for it.”
Democrats, Unions rallied around Taylor Rehmet’s bid
Rehmet received endorsements from a number of Texas Democrats as he looked to flip Senate District 9. Among them are local state representatives, former Sen. Wendy Davis, Fort Worth city council members.
State Rep. Gina Hinojosa, a Democratic candidate for governor, headlined the January campaign event in Fort Worth, offering words of support to the first time candidate.
“I am going across this state, and I am telling people what you all are doing in Taylor Rehmet’s Senate seat,” Hinajosa said to the packed crowd at Morton’s Tavern.
The political arms of union groups have also rallied around Rehmet.
This story was originally published January 31, 2026 at 7:52 PM.
