Voters in North Texas will decide the winner in a runoff after Leigh Wambsganss and Taylor Rehmet finished as the top two candidates in the special election for Senate District 9.

The Tuesday contest, held to fill the State Senate seat vacated by Acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock, ended without any candidate securing a majority, triggering a runoff to determine who will serve out the remainder of the term through the end of 2026. The district includes large portions of Tarrant County, including Keller, North Richland Hills, and parts of Fort Worth.

According to unofficial election returns, Rehmet, a labor union leader and machinist, finished first with roughly 47% of the vote, followed by Wambsganss, a longtime Republican grassroots figure and former congressional staffer, with approximately 36%. Former Southlake Mayor John Huffman received approximately 16% of the votes and was eliminated from the race.

Wambsganss told The Dallas Express during a telephone interview that she viewed the results as a message from local voters. “Texans showed up in a big way and showed that when a candidate gets over 94% of their funds from outside of this state, that it doesn’t go well with Texas voters,” she said. She added that after election night, she heard from supporters of her Republican opponent who told her they were ready to “come together and fight to keep Texas red.”

Wambsganss said her campaign would maintain the same message heading into the runoff.“We’re fighting for faith, family and freedom and … conservative legislation [that is] good for all Texans,” she said. “No one should take this race for granted.”

She also argued that the election results sent a signal to gambling interests in the state, saying, “I think it was a clear message that Texas isn’t ready … for that type of industry,” referencing the debate over legalizing casinos.

Rehmet publicly claimed momentum following the election, writing on social media: “We’re headed to the runoff! My billionaire-backed Republican opponents spent MILLIONS, but we were powered entirely by working Texans. And last night, we proved that when you put people over politics, anything’s possible. Let’s win this thing!”

Rehmet did not return a request for comment before publication regarding his campaign’s strategy for the runoff.

Huffman, the former mayor who finished third, issued a statement acknowledging his defeat and thanking supporters.

“Last night’s results were not what we hoped for, but Elizabeth and I are deeply grateful for everyone who supported our campaign and shared our vision for the future of Senate District 9,” he wrote. He added that while his campaign had ended, his “commitment to public service” would continue.

The special election garnered statewide attention, with multiple high-profile endorsements and substantial campaign spending, according to reports from various state political outlets.

While Rehmet finished ahead in the three-way contest, the combined vote share for the two Republican candidates exceeded his total.

Wambsganss emphasized the stakes ahead, saying control of the chamber could shift. “In the state of Texas, there’s only 31 senators and 11 are Democrats and 20 are Republicans,” she said. “Every single seat in the state Senate and the state House is important to the state of Texas.”

The runoff is scheduled to take place in January.