diff --git a/src/registrar/models/domain_request.py b/src/registrar/models/domain_request.py
index 426d81ea3..617143ac7 100644
--- a/src/registrar/models/domain_request.py
+++ b/src/registrar/models/domain_request.py
@@ -689,7 +689,7 @@ class DomainRequest(TimeStampedModel):
                 "reason": self.rejection_reason,
                 "email": self.rejection_reason_email,
                 "excluded_reasons": [DomainRequest.RejectionReasons.OTHER],
-            }
+            },
         }
         status_info = status_information.get(status)
 
@@ -952,7 +952,7 @@ class DomainRequest(TimeStampedModel):
 
         As side effects this will delete the domain and domain_information
         (will cascade) when they exist.
-        
+
         Afterwards, we send out an email for action_needed in def save().
         See the function send_custom_status_update_email.
         """
diff --git a/src/registrar/tests/test_admin_request.py b/src/registrar/tests/test_admin_request.py
index 382a1e973..5104f23fb 100644
--- a/src/registrar/tests/test_admin_request.py
+++ b/src/registrar/tests/test_admin_request.py
@@ -595,12 +595,13 @@ class TestDomainRequestAdmin(MockEppLib):
 
     @less_console_noise_decorator
     def transition_state_and_send_email(
-        self, 
-        domain_request, 
-        status, 
-        rejection_reason=None, 
-        rejection_reason_email=None, 
-        action_needed_reason=None, action_needed_reason_email=None
+        self,
+        domain_request,
+        status,
+        rejection_reason=None,
+        rejection_reason_email=None,
+        action_needed_reason=None,
+        action_needed_reason_email=None,
     ):
         """Helper method for the email test cases."""
 
@@ -617,7 +618,7 @@ class TestDomainRequestAdmin(MockEppLib):
 
             if rejection_reason:
                 domain_request.rejection_reason = rejection_reason
-            
+
             if rejection_reason_email:
                 domain_request.rejection_reason_email = rejection_reason_email
 
@@ -798,13 +799,13 @@ class TestDomainRequestAdmin(MockEppLib):
             DomainRequest.RejectionReasons.ORG_NOT_ELIGIBLE: ".Gov domains are only available to official U.S.-based",
             DomainRequest.RejectionReasons.NAMING_REQUIREMENTS: "does not meet our naming requirements",
             # TODO - add back other?
-            #DomainRequest.RejectionReasons.OTHER: "",
+            # DomainRequest.RejectionReasons.OTHER: "",
         }
         for i, (reason, email_content) in enumerate(expected_emails.items()):
             with self.subTest(reason=reason):
                 self.transition_state_and_send_email(domain_request, status=rejected, rejection_reason=reason)
                 self.assert_email_is_accurate(email_content, i, EMAIL, bcc_email_address=BCC_EMAIL)
-                self.assertEqual(len(self.mock_client.EMAILS_SENT), i+1)
+                self.assertEqual(len(self.mock_client.EMAILS_SENT), i + 1)
 
         # Tests if an analyst can override existing email content
         domain_purpose = DomainRequest.RejectionReasons.DOMAIN_PURPOSE
@@ -1073,7 +1074,9 @@ class TestDomainRequestAdmin(MockEppLib):
 
         # Reject for reason REQUESTOR and test email including dynamic organization name
         self.transition_state_and_send_email(
-            domain_request, DomainRequest.DomainRequestStatus.REJECTED, DomainRequest.RejectionReasons.REQUESTOR_NOT_ELIGIBLE
+            domain_request,
+            DomainRequest.DomainRequestStatus.REJECTED,
+            DomainRequest.RejectionReasons.REQUESTOR_NOT_ELIGIBLE,
         )
         self.assert_email_is_accurate(
             "Your domain request was rejected because we don’t believe you’re eligible to request a \n.gov "
diff --git a/src/registrar/tests/test_models.py b/src/registrar/tests/test_models.py
index dab8ff242..0b01ee0a6 100644
--- a/src/registrar/tests/test_models.py
+++ b/src/registrar/tests/test_models.py
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ from api.tests.common import less_console_noise_decorator
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
+
 @boto3_mocking.patching
 class TestDomainRequest(TestCase):
     @less_console_noise_decorator
@@ -293,6 +294,8 @@ class TestDomainRequest(TestCase):
                 # Perform the specified action
                 action_method = getattr(domain_request, action)
                 action_method()
+                domain_request.save()
+                domain_request.refresh_from_db()
 
             # Check if an email was sent
             sent_emails = [
diff --git a/src/registrar/utility/admin_helpers.py b/src/registrar/utility/admin_helpers.py
index 19ea4c7b5..ad7ecae19 100644
--- a/src/registrar/utility/admin_helpers.py
+++ b/src/registrar/utility/admin_helpers.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ def get_action_needed_reason_default_email(domain_request, action_needed_reason)
         domain_request,
         file_path=f"emails/action_needed_reasons/{action_needed_reason}.txt",
         reason=action_needed_reason,
-        excluded_reasons=[DomainRequest.ActionNeededReasons.OTHER]
+        excluded_reasons=[DomainRequest.ActionNeededReasons.OTHER],
     )
 
 
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ def get_rejection_reason_default_email(domain_request, rejection_reason):
         # excluded_reasons=[DomainRequest.RejectionReasons.OTHER]
     )
 
+
 def _get_default_email(domain_request, file_path, reason, excluded_reasons=None):
     if not reason:
         return None