Three candidates are vying for a Tarrant County state Senate seat in a special election. The district favors Republicans.

Democrat Taylor Rehmet meets with supporters at his watch party at Nickel City in Fort Worth on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025. Rehmet is headed for a runoff for the District 9 Senate seat. Seemingly advancing to a runoff, Wambsganss’ campaign issued a news release a little after 10 p.m.: “Wambsganss Trounces Huffman,” the subject line declared.

Early results show Democrat Taylor Rehmet and Republican Leigh Wambsganss splitting the majority, leaving behind Republican John Huffman.

The special election for Texas Senate District 9 became something of a referendum on casino gambling in Texas.

There is a three-person race to replace an outgoing state senator in Tarrant County. With early voting totals in, Democrat Taylor Rehmet, a veteran and union leader, is leading the way with 44% of the vote.

Three candidates are running in the heavily conservative district: Republicans Leigh Wambsganss and John Huffman, and Democrat Taylor Rehmet.

A Fort Worth state senate race has become a proxy war between casino interests and conservative power brokers over gambling expansion.

The already high-dollar race for Texas Senate District 9 grew significantly more expensive in the month leading up to early voting, with both Republican candidates doubling their campaign funds to well over $1 million each.