State Senator, Texas Senate District 9

Taylor Rehmet is a Democrat and U.S. Air Force veteran who worked as a machinist building F-35s and served as a union president with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers². He won a January 31, 2026 special runoff for Senate District 9 and took office on February 19, 2026, filling the rest of former Sen. Kelly Hancock's term¹. He is running against Republican Leigh Wambsganss for a full four-year term¹⁶.

Where they stand

• AI data centers: Pause new approvals until the state finishes studying power and water impacts Said · high confidence
  • His campaign says he supports a moratorium on new AI data centers until the Legislature sets clear guidelines, and wants communities to have the final say on whether they are built. (2026-09) source
  • Told the Fort Worth Report he supports requiring data center developers to provide their own power to connect to the grid, after earlier saying he backs a statewide moratorium. (2026-09) source
• School choice: No, keep public money in traditional public schools Said · medium confidence
  • His campaign says he supports fully funding public schools and repealing the private school voucher program. (2026-09) source
  • Told The Texan he will never support any plan that sends public dollars to private schools. (2025-08) source
• Property taxes: Keep cutting them and cap how fast they can rise Said · medium confidence
  • His campaign says he supports capping appraisal spikes, expanding exemptions for veterans and seniors, and increasing the state's share of school funding to reduce reliance on property taxes. (2026-09) source
  • His agenda calls for significant homeowner property tax relief by increasing the state's share of public education funding. (2026-09) source
• Policing and crime: Fund police and add reforms like body cameras and use-of-force limits Said · medium confidence
  • His campaign says he supports law enforcement staffing, training and resources, stronger mental health and addiction treatment, crime prevention programs, and high professional standards for officers. (2026-09) source
• Marijuana: Legalize and regulate it like alcohol Questionnaire answer · low confidence
  • Told the Star-Telegram the Legislature should regulate hemp and THC products with permitting and fair taxation the same way it does alcohol, instead of banning them. (2025) source
  • Told the Fort Worth Report he supports regulating THC products without fully outlawing cannabis. (2026-09) source
• Childcare and pre-K: Target free pre-K and subsidies to low-income and priority families Said · low confidence
  • His agenda proposes a per diem childcare subsidy for family caregivers who watch children while a parent looks for work. (2026-09) source
• AI regulation: Let states like Texas write their own targeted AI rules Said · medium confidence
  • His agenda calls for state safeguards against using artificial intelligence and algorithms to set or raise prices for health insurance and housing. (2026-09) source
• Immigration: Position does not fit our answer choices; see evidence. Said · medium confidence
  • His campaign says he supports securing the border and enforcing immigration laws while treating people with dignity and respect. (2026-09) source
  • Told the Fort Worth Report he sees a need for faster immigration courts and viable pathways to immigrate legally. (2026-09) source
• Term limits: Position does not fit our answer choices; see evidence. Questionnaire answer · medium confidence
  • Asked by The Texan whether he would impose a term limit on himself, said yes and that he would introduce legislation to make term limits the law. (2025-08) source

No public position found on: Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Healthcare, Abortion, Guns, Energy and climate, Texas power grid, Curriculum and books, Housing and growth, Election rules, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Gender care for minors, Redistricting, Campaign finance, Electoral College, Ranked-choice voting, Death penalty, Qualified immunity, Mandatory minimums, Drug prices, Paid leave, Student loans, Kids online, School vaccines, Nuclear power, E-Verify mandate, Transgender athletes, DEI programs, Religion in schools, China policy.

Record

• Placed first with 47.6 percent in the November 4, 2025 special election for Senate District 9, short of a majority, forcing a runoff⁵.
• Won the January 31, 2026 runoff against Leigh Wambsganss by 14 percentage points and was sworn in February 19, 2026, the first Democrat to hold the seat in more than 30 years¹.
• Was not assigned to a Senate committee by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick; the Legislature has not met in regular session since he took office¹.
• Says he has drafted and filed 35 bills and held a public education town hall in April 2026¹.
• Unopposed in the March 3, 2026 Democratic primary¹.