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Texas Senate, District 9

4-year termTaylor Rehmet (D) won the seat in a special election runoff on Jan. 31, 2026 against Leigh Wambsganss; this is a rematch for the full term. Texas Tribune (Oct. 6, 2026) rates it the most competitive Texas Senate race. General-election roster cross-checked against Branch and The Ballot Brief (both cite the Secretary of State certified list); the Secretary of State candidate search site could not be loaded during research. Candidate positions summarize Branch Politics profiles (which summarize candidate websites, checked July-September 2026) unless a campaign site is cited directly. Incumbent records cite the 2025 SB 2 (education savings accounts) journal votes; other 89th Legislature votes were not yet researched.Partially researched. Last researched Oct 19, 2026Report a correction
Republican
DemocraticIncumbent
Property Taxes
What is the candidate's position on property tax levels and relief?
Says she would cut property taxes and lower insurance premiums. 
Supports capping appraisal increases, expanding exemptions for veterans and seniors, and shifting the tax burden away from homeowners and renters. 
Education and School Choice
What is the candidate's position on public school funding, education savings accounts, and curriculum?
Says she supports funding needed to improve education and expanded career training and apprenticeships; her issues page does not address school choice. 
Supports fully funding public schools and repealing the education savings account program (often called school vouchers). 
Border Security
What role should the state play in border security and immigration enforcement?
No public position found.
Searched Oct 19, 2026.
Says he supports securing the border, enforcing immigration laws, and giving law enforcement more resources. 
Power Grid and Energy
What is the candidate's position on the ERCOT grid, reliability, and energy production?
Supports ending tax incentives for data centers and requiring them to pay their own water and electricity costs. 
Supports a moratorium on new AI data centers until the Legislature sets guidelines, and local say over facility siting. 
Abortion
What is the candidate's position on Texas abortion law?
Says she will protect "innocent life" and supports reducing barriers to private resources for women facing crisis pregnancies. 
No public position found.
Searched Oct 19, 2026.
Firearms
What is the candidate's position on Texas firearms laws?
States support for Texans' right to keep and bear arms. 
No public position found.
Searched Oct 19, 2026.
Public Safety and Bail
What is the candidate's position on bail, policing, and criminal justice?
Supports keeping violent repeat offenders incarcerated and equipping law enforcement to address drugs and human trafficking. 
Supports prosecuting fentanyl traffickers, cracking down on violent crime and trafficking, and expanding mental health and addiction treatment. 
Health Care
What is the candidate's position on Medicaid, insurance coverage, and health costs in Texas?
No public position found.
Searched Oct 19, 2026.
Says he would work to curb insurance premium increases, lower prescription drug prices, and limit hospital costs. 
Elections and Voting
What is the candidate's position on election administration, voting rules, and redistricting?
No public position found.
Searched Oct 19, 2026.
Supports ending what he calls partisan gerrymandering through an independent redistricting commission. 
District Priorities
What does the candidate say are the top issues for this district?
No public position found.
Searched Oct 19, 2026.
Lists transportation improvements on corridors including SH 121, I-820 and SH 183, expanded transit including TEXRail, and toll pricing changes. 
Transgender Policy
What is the candidate's position on Texas laws related to transgender people, including medical treatment for minors, school sports, facilities, and legal definitions of sex?
Not yet researched.
Not yet researched.
Religion and Public Schools
What is the candidate's position on religion in public schools, such as displaying the Ten Commandments, school prayer, and chaplains?
Not yet researched.
Not yet researched.
Religious Liberty and Faith Communities
What has the candidate said or done regarding religious freedom and specific faith communities in Texas, such as Christians, Jews, and Muslims?
Not yet researched.
Not yet researched.
Home Insurance and Housing Costs
What is the candidate's approach to home insurance rates and housing costs in Texas?
Not yet researched.
Not yet researched.
Issue 1 of 14

Property Taxes

What is the candidate's position on property tax levels and relief?
Republican
Says she would cut property taxes and lower insurance premiums. 
DemocraticIncumbent
Supports capping appraisal increases, expanding exemptions for veterans and seniors, and shifting the tax burden away from homeowners and renters. 
Sources for this contest (3)
  1. Texas State Senator, District 9 (2026 general election), Branch. Retrieved Oct 19, 2026.
  2. Texas State Senate elections, 2026, Ballotpedia. Retrieved Oct 19, 2026.
  3. 2026 Texas Senate election, Wikipedia. Retrieved Oct 19, 2026.