Democrats posted several unexpected special-election wins in early 2026, including two races in Minnesota that restored an even split in the state House. Taylor Rehmet won a double-digit state Senate race in a Fort Worth suburb that Trump carried by 17 points in 2024. In Louisiana, Chasity Verret Martinez captured State House District 60 with 62% of the vote—winning by 24 points in a district Trump won by 13. Observers say these results fit a broader trend of Democratic gains in special contests.
Democrats Extend Momentum in Early 2026 Special Elections, Denying GOP Several Pickup Chances
Democrats delivered a string of surprising and decisive wins in early 2026 special elections, furthering a pattern of overperformance in contests Republicans expected to hold or flip.
Key Results
Minnesota: Two Democratic victories in separate special elections restored the Minnesota House to an even partisan split.
Texas: Democrat Taylor Rehmet, a union leader and Air Force veteran, won a double-digit victory in a Fort Worth–area state Senate race. The district had favored Donald Trump by 17 points in 2024. Reports said Trump personally tried to rally support for the GOP candidate but later downplayed his role after the loss.
The Louisiana state Capitol seen on April 4, 2023, in Baton Rouge.(Stephen Smith / AP Photo)
Louisiana: In a race seen as a prime GOP pickup opportunity, Democrat Chasity Verret Martinez won the special election for State House District 60 with 62% of the vote, defeating Republican Brad Daigle. Martinez prevailed by a 24-point margin in a district that Trump carried by 13 points in 2024.
"Since Trump returned to the White House, Democrats have picked up eight Republican-controlled districts through special elections, as well as 18 seats in New Jersey and Virginia during those states' regularly scheduled contests last November. Republicans have flipped none." — The Downballot
What This Suggests
While one-off special elections should be interpreted cautiously, the pattern is notable: Democrats are regularly outperforming expectations in these isolated contests. Political analysts point to several contributing factors, including unfavorable approval ratings for national Republican leadership, an uptick in retirements among GOP members of Congress, and growing public resistance to key elements of the party's agenda.
These special-election outcomes, particularly in districts that voted strongly for Trump in 2024, suggest organizational strength and voter appetite for Democratic candidates in the current cycle. If the trend persists, it could complicate Republican hopes of netting pickups in the 2026 midterms.
Sources: The Advocate (Baton Rouge), The Downballot, race reporting from local outlets.
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