Republicans strip power from Dem who shocked with red state upset [View all]
Source: Raw Story
March 23, 2026 7:47PM ET
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.
Read more: https://www.rawstory.com/taylor-rehmet-2676581221/
Link to Fort Worth Star-Telegram REPORT - ‘Petty, partisan politics.’ Tarrant Dem rips Patrick over committee seat snub
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