What you need to know
Senate District 9 covers about half of Fort Worth and several suburban communities in northern Tarrant County, including Keller and Southlake. The district served a total population of 964,126 people at the time of the 2020 census, according to state data.
Whoever wins the special election will serve the remainder of Hancock’s term, which runs until January 2027. The seat is up for re-election in 2026.
According to the secretary of state’s office, the following candidates will appear on the ballot for Texas Senate District 9:
Zooming in
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who leads the state Senate, endorsed Wambsganss after she announced her candidacy in June. Patrick said he believed Wambsganss, a business owner and political strategist, would be “a great addition to our conservative Texas Senate.”
“I have spent my entire adult life as a volunteer public servant, not for a title, but out of conviction,” Wambsganss said in a June 27 campaign announcement. “From leading grassroots campaigns to serving on the front lines of the Second Amendment and pro-life movements, my mission has always been clear: to defend conservative Christian family values, safeguard our freedoms, and ensure Texas remains a stronghold for faith, family and freedom.”
Huffman, a former Southlake mayor and small business owner, has touted endorsements from local mayors and state lawmakers on his social media.
“Senate District 9 deserves a strong conservative voice that knows how to get things done, not just talk about it,” Huffman said in a July 22 statement announcing his campaign. “That is the kind of leadership I delivered as mayor and that is the kind of leadership I will bring to the Texas Senate.”
Rehmet, a U.S. Air Force veteran and union organizer, has been endorsed by various state and local Democrats, including Sen. Nathan Johnson, D-Dallas. He is also backed by several Texas labor groups, according to his campaign website.
“Texas is being sold off to the highest bidder and working folks are being left behind,” Rehmet said in a June 23 campaign announcement. “I’m running because we deserve a government that works as hard as we do.”
Unlike a general election, special elections do not include primary races, meaning all three candidates will appear on the ballot.
How we got here
Hancock left the Legislature in June to join the state comptroller’s office, where he briefly served as chief clerk before taking over as acting comptroller July 1. The North Texas business owner also has experience in the Texas House and was a state lawmaker for about 18 years.
Hancock will remain acting comptroller until at least 2027. The next election for a four-year term as Texas’ chief budget officer will be held in 2026.
“For over a decade, I’ve fought for Texas taxpayers in the Legislature, cutting red tape, passing conservative budget reforms, and holding government accountable,” Hancock said in a June 19 statement announcing his 2026 campaign for comptroller. “As comptroller, I’ll make sure your tax dollars are spent wisely, transparently, and responsibly.”
One more thing
As of press time, two seats in the 31-member Texas Senate were vacant after former Sen. Brandon Creighton resigned Oct. 2 to become the next chancellor of the Texas Tech University System. A special election to fill Senate District 4 will take place May 2, Community Impact previously reported.
