Trump shrugs off Texas loss as Democrats flip seat
PALM BEACH, FL: Donald Trump pleaded ignorance on Sunday, February 1, after a Texas Republican he endorsed just two days earlier suffered a crushing defeat in a deep-red district that Trump carried by more than 17 points in 2024.
Despite multiple social media posts on Friday urging "America First Patriots" to support Leigh Wambsganss, Trump sought to distance himself from the outcome during a press gaggle at Mar-a-Lago. Wambsganss ultimately lost by double digits to Democrat Taylor Rehmet, a local union leader and veteran.
President denies involvement in loss
Q: In Texas, a Democrat won a special election in an area you won by 17 points. What is your reaction?
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 1, 2026
TRUMP: I don't know. I didn't hear about it. Somebody ran -- where?
Q: In Texas
TRUMP: I'm not involved in that. That's a local Texas race. You mean I won by 17, and this… pic.twitter.com/5AcrXd4bc3
When asked about the trouncing on Sunday, Trump initially claimed he had not heard about the results. "I’m not involved in that. That’s a local Texas race," the President said, cutting off reporters who pointed out his public endorsement of Wambsganss just 48 hours earlier.
"You mean I won by 17 and this person lost? Things like that happen," Trump remarked. He downplayed the significance of the outcome, suggesting that his own popularity is not always "transferrable" to local candidates when his name is not personally on the ballot.
The President quickly pivoted to his standard campaign rhetoric, warning that electing Democrats would lead to "open borders" and "crime all over the place," despite claiming the country currently has the lowest crime rate in 125 years.
Democrats hail historic 31-point swing
Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin called the victory a "warning sign" for the GOP, noting that Republicans went "all out" in a Trump +17 district and still came up short. Analysts said the result reflects voter backlash over the administration’s deportation policies and economic concerns.
The shift from a 17-point Trump win to a double-digit Democratic victory represents a major swing in voter sentiment in the Fort Worth-area district. "Tonight’s results prove that no Republican seat is safe," Martin said in a statement released Saturday night.
Taylor Rehmet, a machinist union leader, ran on a platform of unity and worker power. In his victory speech, he told supporters that the win belonged to "everyday working people" rather than political elites.
Senate primary endorsement remains uncertain
The special election result has added fresh uncertainty to the high-stakes Texas Senate primary. Trump has so far hesitated to endorse incumbent Sen John Cornyn or his main challengers, Rep Wesley Hunt and Attorney General Ken Paxton.
On Sunday, Trump admitted he was giving the endorsement "very serious thought" but struggled to decide, noting he is "friendly with all of them." Trump expressed confidence in his so-called "Midas touch," asserting, "They say whoever I endorse wins. That’s probably right."
The outcome of the Senate primary is widely viewed as critical for control of the chamber, and Saturday's upset is expected to increase pressure on Trump to back a candidate who can maintain the GOP's in Texas.
Midterm reckoning looms for GOP
Saturday's blowout in a historically safe Republican stronghold has alarmed some strategists ahead of the midterm elections. While Wambsganss described the loss as a "wake-up call," the 31-point swing suggests deeper vulnerabilities for the party.
Trump reiterated his distance from the defeat, "I know there’s a race going there. That’s too bad. What can I say? I have nothing to do with it," he told reporters before moving on to other topics.
Rehmet will serve the remainder of the term through the end of the year, with both candidates expected to face off again in the November general election for a full four-year term.
