Las Vegas Sands-backed John Huffman failed to succeed in the Senate race
Efforts to bring casino gambling to Texas hit another roadblock after last week’s special election in Senate District 9, where casino-backed candidate John Huffman failed to advance to the runoff. Huffman, a Republican and former mayor of Southlake, finished third behind Democrat Taylor Rehmet and Republican Leigh Wambsganss, despite receiving millions in support from Las Vegas Sands and casino billionaire Miriam Adelson.
Huffman captured only 16% of the vote, even though his campaign benefited from roughly $3.5 million in political donations and advertising. His defeat signals another setback for those pushing to expand gambling in Texas, where legislative proposals for casino and sports betting legalization have repeatedly failed in recent years.
The Texas Senate, led by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, remains the biggest obstacle to gambling expansion. Patrick has long opposed casino and sports betting legislation and endorsed Wambsganss, who ran on a strong anti-casino platform. Her stance aligned with conservative voters skeptical of gambling’s moral and social impact, a position reinforced by recent scandals involving betting and corruption in professional sports.
Despite the defeat, Adelson’s casino network remains active in Texas politics. Her Texas Sands PAC held more than $8 million in cash at the end of October, while the Texas Defense PAC has spent millions more backing pro-gambling candidates. Combined, these groups have funneled over $7 million into more than 90 legislative campaigns since 2024.
Huffman avoided making casino legalization a central campaign issue, instead focusing on property taxes, cost of living, and public safety. His campaign’s cautious approach may have alienated both moderate and pro-gambling voters. Meanwhile, Wambsganss capitalized on support from Patrick and President Donald Trump, helping her secure a spot in the runoff.
While polls show Texans broadly support casino and sports betting legalization, the political path remains steep. Business groups like the Texas Association of Business continue to advocate for a public vote, but for now, casino interests will have to regroup and prepare for another legislative fight in 2026.
