In the continuing story of special elections we add this one for those readers who prefer entrails over tea leaves:
A huge backlash to Trump (probably due to economic and ICE-related issues) has propelled a Democrat, Taylor Rehmet (veteran and machinist union leader), into a Texas State Senate seat held by Republicans for the last 48 years. [Paul in Austin @ Daily Kos]
H/T to Paul in Austin.
Nor was this contest close, with preliminary numbers indicating a victory of just short of 15 points. The previous election for this seat, held in 2022, gave the Republican candidate, Kelly Hancock, who has moved on to a new job as Texas Comptroller, a 20 point victory in a 277,883 vote contest, while this special election ran to 118,912 votes, or well less than half of the general election.
It appears Democrats were far more likely to bring their voters to the polls than the Republicans, suggesting widespread disgust with Republicans, IF we disregard the usual caveats concerning politics being local, local, and local. Neither candidate seems to have held elective office prior to this contest, so exposure to the candidates would seem to be limited.
