Former Trump Officials Panic
Former White House press secretary Sean Spicer is urging Republicans to take a recent Texas special election result seriously, warning that the outcome signals deeper challenges for the GOP if ignored.
During a Monday episode of The D.C. Huddle livestream, Spicer explained that he personally reached out to Texas lawmakers, party officials, and political insiders to gauge how concerned Republicans should be. According to Spicer, the response was unanimous.
“Every single person I spoke with said the same thing—this is a problem,” Spicer said. One Texas source described the situation as “an 8.5 on the Richter scale,” underscoring the level of concern within Republican circles.
Spicer cautioned conservatives against dismissing the result as a one-off event, noting that voter turnout patterns in special elections often reveal early warning signs ahead of larger contests. He pointed to commentary from retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, a longtime Trump ally, who has also publicly raised concerns about recent election trends.
“This isn’t about panic,” Spicer explained. “It’s about looking at turnout, engagement, and momentum—and those indicators matter.”
The warning followed a notable Democratic win in a Texas state Senate special election runoff over the weekend. Democrat Taylor Rehmet defeated Republican Leigh Wambsganss to fill a vacant seat in Texas Senate District 9, a district President Donald Trump carried by 17 points in the 2024 election.
The unexpected result has fueled broader Republican unease as Democrats have logged a series of victories over the past year, including wins in the New Jersey and Virginia gubernatorial races and the New York City mayoral contest.
Democrats are now openly eyeing the 2026 midterm elections as an opportunity to regain control of the House and potentially make gains in the Senate. At the same time, President Trump’s approval numbers have shown some softness. According to an average compiled by Decision Desk HQ, Trump’s approval rating currently stands at 42.9 percent.
Republicans have also faced political headwinds tied to voter concerns over immigration enforcement, government transparency issues, and ongoing frustration with inflation and the cost of living.
Spicer’s message to Republicans was clear: special elections may not grab national headlines, but they often provide early insight into voter sentiment. Ignoring those signals now, he warned, could lead to bigger challenges down the road.
