Former Montgomery County DA Brett Ligon Wins Texas Senate Special Election
Why It Matters
The special election outcome in Texas Senate District 4 reinforces Republican strength in one of the state’s most conservative legislative seats, while setting the stage for a November rematch that will determine who holds the seat for a full four-year term. The result also comes amid broader Democratic optimism about flipping GOP seats during midterm election cycles.
What Happened
Brett Ligon, the Republican former district attorney of Montgomery County, won a special election Saturday for the Texas Senate seat vacated by Brandon Creighton, who departed last year to become chancellor of the Texas Tech University System. Ligon defeated Democrat Ron Angeletti, an educator and small-business owner who was the only other candidate on the ballot.
Ligon declared victory approximately 25 minutes after polls closed. “The voters of SD4 have delivered a clear message tonight. Conservative values and Republican dominance in Texas are alive and well,” he said in a statement. “Democrats from Texas and all over the country threw everything they had at us. Democrat politicians were here today in full force, campaigning hard for my opponent. As if we had been flying the ‘Come and Take It’ flag — they tried — and they failed.”
Ligon will serve the remainder of Creighton’s term, which runs through the start of the next legislative session in January. The two candidates are set for a rematch in November for a full four-year term.
By the Numbers
- 34 points: President Donald Trump’s margin of victory in Senate District 4 in the 2024 presidential election, making it one of the reddest seats in the Texas Senate.
- 4 counties: Senate District 4 spans Chambers, Harris, Jefferson, and Montgomery counties.
- 2 candidates: Ligon and Angeletti were the only candidates on the special election ballot.
- January 2027: The end of Creighton’s unexpired term, which Ligon will now serve out.
- October 2024: The month Creighton departed the Senate, leaving the seat without representation.
Zoom Out
Saturday’s Republican win follows a notable setback for the party earlier this year, when Democrats captured a North Texas Senate seat in a special election upset — a result that drew national attention and energized Democratic organizers across the state. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, whose preferred candidate lost in that race, used Saturday’s result to reframe the political narrative heading into November.
“Ligon’s decisive victory is an important and timely reminder that when Texas Republicans are energized and united, we cannot be defeated,” Patrick posted on social media, adding that the Senate GOP caucus is “stronger than ever.”
The broader national environment heading into the 2026 midterms has given Democrats optimism about flipping GOP-held legislative seats across multiple states. Texas Democrats had invested significant resources in the SD4 race, with party officials campaigning in person for Angeletti. Despite those efforts, the district’s deep-red composition proved difficult to overcome. Voters navigating Texas primary and special election rules have at times faced confusion as parties exercise varying levels of control over candidate selection processes.
Although SD4 has lacked representation since Creighton’s departure, the Texas Legislature has not been in session during that period, limiting the practical impact of the vacancy. The Legislature is not scheduled to reconvene until January for its next regular session.
What’s Next
Ligon will be sworn in and serve the balance of Creighton’s unexpired term through January. Both Ligon and Angeletti will face each other again in the November general election for a full four-year term in the seat.
Patrick predicted Republicans would “defeat their opponents easily” in November across the state, including in the North Texas district Democrats flipped earlier this year. That district, unlike SD4, is considered more competitive and will be closely watched as an indicator of midterm momentum. Political observers will also be tracking whether Democratic turnout efforts in the Houston and Dallas metropolitan areas translate into stronger general-election performances later this year.