Democrat Taylor Rehmet’s stunning upset victory is explained in part by the massive swing by Latino voters toward his campaign compared to other Democrats in recent elections.
Alejandro Serrano
Alejandro Serrano writes about Texas politics and government, with a focus on immigration and education issues. Since joining the Tribune, he has helped investigate the 2022 Uvalde school shooting, lived for half a year in Eagle Pass during a temporary assignment covering immigration and documented a variety of major occurrences in the state from Houston, where he used to live. He previously covered education for the Houston Chronicle and breaking news for the San Francisco Chronicle. The Long Island, New York, native received his bachelor's degree in journalism from Northeastern University. He is based in Austin and speaks fluent Spanish.
Posted in
Politics
How Taylor Rehmet upset a MAGA candidate to flip a North Texas Senate district
Observers of the race said Rehmet’s working-class appeal, along with Latino and suburban backlash to GOP policies, fueled his win in a district Donald Trump carried by 17 points.
Posted in
2026 Texas Elections
Democrat Taylor Rehmet wins solidly red Texas Senate seat in stunning special election upset
With ballots tallied from all but a handful of voting centers, Rehmet had 57% of the vote, besting the 43% for his GOP opponent, Leigh Wambsganss, who had a massive spending advantage.
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2025 Legislative Recap
Texas lawmakers: Cannabis is here to stay. And we will regulate the market in 2027.
Lawmakers and industry leaders gathered in Austin this week to discuss the future of the market. “We almost have to take it on,” a Republican state House member said.
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2026 Texas Elections
Texas comptroller primary: Who is running and what to know
The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts is the state’s chief financial officer. Here’s a look at who’s running in the 2026 primary and where they stand.
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2026 Texas Elections
Steelworkers union leader emerges as sleeper in Texas’ Democratic lieutenant governor primary
Facing state Rep. Vikki Goodwin, Marcos Vélez has landed the Texas AFL-CIO’s endorsement and support from a donor trail that leads back to the state party’s top campaign partner.
Posted in
Immigration
Federal appeals court rehears challenge against Texas’ immigration law
Senate Bill 4 returns to the 5th Circuit with border crossings at record lows, a sharp reversal from the influx that inspired Texas’ law authorizing state police to arrest undocumented immigrants.
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2026 Texas Elections
Why Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s endorsed candidates always win
No GOP candidate for the Texas Senate has ever defeated a Patrick-endorsed primary opponent since he became the state’s second-in-command over a decade ago.
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2026 Texas Elections
James Talarico reports raising nearly $7 million, continuing cash influx to U.S. Senate bid
His primary opponent U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas, said in a statement that every quarter last year was a record one for her as a fundraiser, but did not say how much she had hauled.
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2026 Texas Elections
Statewide battles, Latino voters and down-ballot contests: the biggest Texas political stories to watch in 2026
The Texas Tribune’s politics team has compiled five of the top stories we’re watching this year, when voters will have their first chance to make their opinions known on the events of 2025.