Republicans strip power from Dem who shocked with red state upset

Texas Republicans have moved to ensure that a Democratic lawmaker elected in a shock special election upset earlier this year will effectively have no power — at least for the time being.

According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, "On Monday afternoon, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick announced which senators would fill committee vacancies, following recent membership shakeups ... Newly sworn in Sen. Taylor Rehmet wasn’t among the senators named on the lieutenant governor’s latest list of committee appointees."

The Texas legislature is not currently in session and will not actually convene to pass bills until after the next election, at which point Rehmet would have to be re-elected in a tough fight anyway. However, the report noted, lawmakers "typically hold hearings in the interim to study policy topics in preparation for when they next convene," a process Rehmet will not be able to participate in.

Rehmet, a veteran and union organizer, responded to the news with furious accusations that the GOP are trying to silence his district and his voters.

"After months of SD9 having no voice, the Lt. Gov just refused to assign me to any legislative committee. This type of partisan maneuvering stands in the way of delivering results for ALL Texans," wrote Rehmet on X, posting a petition to demand he be given assignments.

Rehmet was elected in a stunning upset to a reliably Republican district in Fort Worth, defeating far-right MAGA activist Leigh Wambsganss, who was heavily involved in efforts to take over local school boards.

He did so in large part by winning Latino voters in a blowout margin, fueling fears among the GOP that they could be heading for broader losses in November that could break their congressional and legislative gerrymanders, which were drawn under the assumption they would capture a significant amount of the Hispanic vote.