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529

‘Earthquake of biblical proportions’ as Democrat flips deep-red Texas State Senate seat (www.commondreams.org)

submitted 1 day ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/news@lemmy.world

73 comments fedilink hide all child comments

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.”

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[–] Tidesphere@piefed.world 6 points 7 hours ago (2 children)

I'm starting to wonder why this even matters? The Epstein Files and all the political action we've seen shows that Democrats are there to provide controlled opposition. No Democrat politician will ever manage to make any real change for the better in the country, right?

I'm trying not to be a Doomer, please someone help me not be a Doomer. It doesn't feel good to be hopeless.

[–] Soulg@ani.social 2 points 5 hours ago

Please explain to us how to Khanna has been controlled opposition with the Epstein files

[–] mika_mika@lemmy.world 2 points 6 hours ago (1 children)

Hi, I recommend drugs. Possibly start with thc, but plenty of others if that doesn't suit your need! I haven't been a doomer in years.

I don't recommend nicotine as that can increase doomer behavior.

[–] MadBits@europe.pub 2 points 6 hours ago

Shmoken a shpliffen rn

[–] MyMindIsLikeAnOcean@piefed.world 1 points 5 hours ago

Whether he incites riots or not…he’s going to try and cancel the elections.

[–] Jumi@lemmy.world -1 points 7 hours ago (3 children)

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

[–] MyMindIsLikeAnOcean@piefed.world 3 points 5 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 2 points 5 hours ago

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

[–] LittleBorat3@lemmy.world 2 points 6 hours ago (1 children)

So how much of last year's shit would have happened with the Dems exactly?

[–] Jumi@lemmy.world 3 points 6 hours ago (2 children)

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

[–] MadBits@europe.pub 4 points 6 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 2 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

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 1 points 1 hour ago

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

[–] Tollana1234567@lemmy.today 13 points 18 hours ago (1 children)

and UTAH'S GOV signed a bill that he can EXPAND the supreme court in UTAH as of recently, for the fear of DEM wins in the state.

[–] SchwertImStein@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

what does that mean for non-usians?

[–] Insekticus@aussie.zone 5 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

Sounds like it means he can put a bunch of his friends onto the that state's supreme court, so any elections held for those positions, while in Dems control (which would flip lots of seats after their terms are up), will be ineffective against the horde of Republicunts he puts into power until the Dems are the bad guys again

[–] mattyroses@lemmy.today 1 points 6 hours ago (1 children)

Dems could pack the court as well

[–] yakko@feddit.uk 2 points 6 hours ago

They don't fight dirty like that. Even when they should.

[–] Horsey@lemmy.world 7 points 18 hours ago

While Fort Worth is a red city, it’s still a major city in the Dallas area. Fort Worth is not full of rednecks who work the fields

[–] MehBlah@lemmy.world 0 points 9 hours ago* (last edited 5 hours ago) (2 children)

Its a minor rumble until its multiple GOP upsets. Who is to say this guy really is a democrat?

Edit: Apparently I've triggered someone who won't and probably can't answer the question. I really would like to know what this guys stance is but I haven't found much to lead me to believe he isn't another like schumer. I fed the troll below way too long but the question stands.

Is this guy a GOP plant or is he just making all the right noises.

Before you start talking about "he is a union man". I've known union men who moved up into the leadership of a union and started shitting all over those below them. I've been in a union and know how 'leadership' act in their own best interest at the expense of those they represent. Had our locals buisness manager move up to the international and support a increase in our dues and signed a deal to let rats work on the same job with us.

So one of you downvoters other than whats his name? Tell me what kind of a guy this guy is or if you don't know stay silent. Silly me probably all the downvotes are whats his name.

[–] Branch_Ranch@lemmy.world 5 points 8 hours ago

There's been many other dem upsets, but I believe this is the largest so far. Dems are out performing Kamala by around 15 points I think, which opens up quite a few up coming races if the trend continues.

[–] rezifon@lemmy.world 2 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

Who is to say this guy really is a democrat?

What information did you learn about Rehmet that inspires you to you speculate that he isn't?

[–] MehBlah@lemmy.world -1 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

I just look around at all the people around who call themselves democrat and vote with republicans. So far all I'm getting is crap from people asking why I'm asking and very little in the way of specific points against?

[–] rezifon@lemmy.world 1 points 7 hours ago* (last edited 7 hours ago) (1 children)

It's not necessary to raise any points to counter a position that raised none of its own. All I'm asking is for you to support the bullshit "just asking questions" claim you presented.

[–] MehBlah@lemmy.world -3 points 6 hours ago (1 children)

I didn't make a claim. I asked a question. Because I want to know the answer to it and you are not answering it. You are attacking the question. Trying to transform it into a claim/lie.

Questions are not lies. They are a effort to seek the truth and get a answer.

Never mind answering. You don't know or care you just hate people asking the question. I would ask Taylor Rehmet but he isn't here. Whatever reason you dislike the question I know I wont get a truthful answer from you.

[–] rezifon@lemmy.world 2 points 6 hours ago (1 children)

You betray your bullshit "question" when you complain that nobody has provided you any "specific points against" the question.

Against what? How can a point be for or against a question seeking an answer?

[–] MehBlah@lemmy.world -1 points 5 hours ago

No I haven't. I just asked a question that triggered a butthurt troll. Now I block you and the world is a better place.

[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 118 points 1 day ago

I mean, fingers crossed.

Republicans have a long and storied history of fighting unfairly. And this will definitely put the fear of God in them

[–] Formfiller@lemmy.world 33 points 1 day ago (7 children)

Hopefully nobody is dumb enough to vote a republican in for 100 years. What is his stance on Israel?

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[–] FisherOfSaints@lemmy.world 33 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Republican Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick reacted somberly to the news of Rehmet’s victory, warning in a social media post that the result was “a wake-up call for Republicans across Texas.”

“Our voters cannot take anything for granted,” Patrick emphasized.

Totally forgotten who works for whom in this arrangement. That’s how deep the fascism is baked in.

[–] jj4211@lemmy.world 1 points 14 hours ago

Though a claim that the right voters just didn't show up would help if magically the GOP carried the district in just 10 months when there is almost nothing free and fair that one could imagine causing such a rematch to change to the tune of a 14 point swing ..

[–] anon_8675309@lemmy.world 16 points 1 day ago (1 children)

A lot of GOP voted for this Dem. They’re sick of current leadership also. Dan Patrick needs a clue.

[–] Tollana1234567@lemmy.today 3 points 18 hours ago

they have the tie is too long ken paxton felon that has been charged by not apprehended.

[–] HellsBelle@sh.itjust.works 63 points 1 day ago (10 children)

Republican opponent Wambsganss conceded defeat in the race but vowed to win an upcoming rematch in November.

Rematch??

[–] YetAnotherNerd@sopuli.xyz 52 points 1 day ago (5 children)

This was a special election to fill a spot. The prior person (Kelly Hancock) quit to become state comptroller. These two will be running in the fall, though I wonder if the groups (including some with ties to white nationalism) that spent $2.5m on her will do so again in the fall. He raised $380k, mostly small donors.

Fun fact - Texas senate doesn’t meet this year, so he might not have a ton to do before the next election, but he’ll run as an incumbent, will be getting ready for next year’s session, and it’s also a nice pants-shitting moment for the Tarrant county Republican Party which is already in the midst of a party purity jihad.

(Seriously, they’re suing and being sued by other republicans about being removed from republican primaries, as well as suing to have democrats removed from Democrat primaries)

[–] Vorticity@lemmy.world 28 points 1 day ago (4 children)

The hell? The Texas senate only meets for 140 days in odd years? How do they get anything done?

[–] Triasha@lemmy.world 1 points 5 hours ago

Texas likes small government so much our state legislature is a part time job.

[–] Tollana1234567@lemmy.today 5 points 18 hours ago* (last edited 18 hours ago)

they do it to avoid questioning from thier constituents in case things goes bad, like the texas freeze or the power grid failing and to prevent Dems from getting things done.

[–] YetAnotherNerd@sopuli.xyz 23 points 1 day ago (2 children)

It’s even crazier than that. If I remember right, every single law is a change to the Texas constitution.

There is also a saying that we would be better off if it were held for two days every 140 years. And there have been some bills that have died (DMCA, IIRC) because they couldn’t get through committee in time, so the “have to be passed this year” had to wait 2 more years.

But they can and will call “special session” for the sorriest of reasons.

[–] Triasha@lemmy.world 2 points 5 hours ago

It's not that all laws have to be constitutional amendments, but our constitution is so long and detailed and a lot of things were written into it to make them hard to change later, so way more laws have to be constitutional amendments than would be in other states.

[–] baronvonj@piefed.social 4 points 10 hours ago

It’s even crazier than that. If I remember right, every single law is a change to the Texas constitution.

No, changes to the state constitution have to pass a 2/3 vote in the state house and senate and then become a ballot measure for the public to vote on. We have a ridiculous number of incredibly specific things in it, though, so we tend to have like a dozen amendments to vote on every time. But we also have a regular statutory code that is altered by regular bills passing the legislature and gubernatorial signature.

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[–] DarkSideOfTheMoon@lemmy.world 32 points 1 day ago (2 children)

This gives me hope. So far the runoff are seeing a huge blue shift. I just hope people go out and vote and don’t be purist saying the candidate is not perfect. We are in this mess because many refused to vote

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