Sands Casino-Backed Texas Senate Candidate Loses Election

UPDATED 11/7/25 11am

The battle for casino gambling in Texas is headed for a political gut check after a Democrat won a majority of votes in a Tarrant County district mapped for Republican victory.

Democrat Taylor Rehmet won 47 percent of early voting, indicating a runoff is in store for Texas Senate District 9, which includes parts of Fort Worth and the wealthy suburbs Southlake and Colleyville. The district turned out for President Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election by a 17-point margin.

Rehmet, an Air Force veteran and union president, is the only candidate left standing who is open to casinos in a race where Sands Casino threw millions of dollars behind a Republican who was knocked out in Tuesday’s special election.

Rehmet is headed for a runoff with conservative Republican Leigh Wambsganss, who is staunchly anti-casino and spent the campaign engaging in a war of words with Republican challenger John Huffman, the former mayor of Southlake. Wambsganss had 36 percent of early voting, and Huffman had 16 percent.

Sands donated $1 million directly to Huffman’s campaign and spent $2 million to advertise on his behalf.

Sands wants to build casino resorts in Texas, and it is flexing all of its muscles after buying the Dallas Mavericks and 200 acres adjacent to the Texas Stadium site in Irving in recent years.

The company, controlled by Miriam Adelson and Patrick Dumont, rezoned a 182-acre tract in March, though a casino component was removed after public backlash.

Adelson is a major donor to President Donald Trump, giving his campaign $100 million last year. Will the Israeli-American magnate cross party lines and endorse a pro-casino Democrat?

Wambsganss, who is chief communications officer for Christian wireless provider Patriot Mobile, is backed by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who presides over the Texas Senate and opposes casino gambling. Wambsganss also drew nods from state Sen. Tan Parker, Tarrant County Judge Tim O’Hare and state Rep. Nate Schatzline, who withdrew from the race after Wambsganss entered it.

Even without the casino intrigue, it was an unusual ballot.

Two Republicans were pitted against a Democrat in the special election to replace Republican Kelly Hancock, who resigned to become acting state comptroller after holding the seat since 2013. No primary election was required.

If no candidate wins 50 percent of the vote, the two top vote-getters will head to a runoff election on Dec. 13.

This story was updated to correct the margin President Trump won by in Senate District 9 in 2024.