Brett Ligon, the Republican former district attorney of Montgomery County, secured victory in a special election on Saturday for the state Senate district previously held by Brandon Creighton, who was appointed as chancellor of the Texas Tech University System last year.
Ligon triumphed over Democrat Ron Angeletti, an educator and small-business owner, who was the sole opponent on the ballot. A rematch between the two is planned for November, where they will compete for a full four-year term. Until then, Ligon will fulfill the remainder of Creighton’s term, which concludes at the start of the next legislative session in January.
In his victory statement, issued just 25 minutes after polls closed, Ligon remarked, “The voters of SD4 have delivered a clear message tonight. Conservative values and Republican dominance in Texas are alive and well. 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.”
Senate District 4, which encompasses Chambers, Harris, Jefferson, and Montgomery counties, delivered a substantial 34-point margin for President Donald Trump in 2024, solidifying its reputation as one of the most Republican-dominated districts in the upper chamber. It is widely regarded as a secure seat for Republicans in the upcoming November elections, despite the midterm political climate that has left Democrats hopeful about flipping some GOP-held legislative seats.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, a Republican and head of the state Senate, stated that Ligon’s victory has strengthened the Senate GOP caucus. “Ligon’s decisive victory is an important and timely reminder that when Texas Republicans are energized and united, we cannot be defeated,” Patrick expressed on social media.
This win for the GOP follows an earlier upset in North Texas, where Democrats claimed a Senate seat in a special election. Patrick, whose favored candidate lost that race unexpectedly, remains optimistic that Republicans will prevail easily in November, including in North Texas.
Although Senate District 4 has been without representation since Creighton’s departure in October, the Legislature has not convened during this time and is not scheduled to return until January for the next regular session.
