Steve Toth Defeats Dan Crenshaw In Texas GOP Primary/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Texas state Rep. Steve Toth defeated incumbent Rep. Dan Crenshaw in the Republican primary for Texas’ 2nd Congressional District. Toth’s victory, backed by Sen. Ted Cruz and conservative groups, highlights growing MAGA influence in GOP primaries. Crenshaw’s loss follows years of tension with the party’s pro-Trump faction.
Texas GOP Primary Crenshaw Defeat Quick Looks
- Steve Toth defeated Rep. Dan Crenshaw in the Republican primary for Texas’ 2nd District.
- Toth received a key endorsement from Sen. Ted Cruz and several conservative groups.
- Crenshaw had served four terms in Congress and was seeking a fifth.
- The race reflected tensions between establishment Republicans and MAGA conservatives.
- Donald Trump and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott did not endorse in the contest.
- Crenshaw had a large fundraising advantage but faced shifting district lines.
- Toth campaigned as a more loyal pro-Trump conservative candidate.
- Toth will face Democratic nominee Shaun Finnie in the November election.
Texas GOP Primary Crenshaw Defeat Deep Look
Republican Rep. Dan Crenshaw of Texas lost his primary race Tuesday to state Rep. Steve Toth, marking a significant victory for the MAGA-aligned wing of the Republican Party and ending the congressman’s bid for a fifth term in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The closely watched primary in Texas’ 2nd Congressional District, located in the Houston area, underscored growing tensions inside the GOP between traditional conservative lawmakers and candidates more closely aligned with former President Donald Trump’s political movement.
Toth, a businessman and state lawmaker who has represented parts of Montgomery County in the Texas Legislature since 2019, framed his campaign as a challenge to what he described as insufficient loyalty to Trump and the MAGA agenda.
Conservative Groups Rally Behind Toth
Toth entered the race with strong support from conservative organizations and Republican leaders who have increasingly sought to reshape the party around Trump’s political priorities.
Among his most influential backers was Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who endorsed Toth late in the campaign after reports surfaced of tensions between Cruz and Crenshaw.
The endorsement followed an alleged confrontation between the two Republicans at an airport, during which Crenshaw reportedly accused Cruz of working against his reelection.
Shortly afterward, Cruz publicly endorsed Toth and released a campaign advertisement praising the challenger as a committed conservative.
“You deserve an unwavering fighter, a Republican who walks the walk,” Cruz said in the advertisement promoting Toth’s candidacy.
Toth also received endorsements from several influential conservative groups and organizations, including the House Freedom Caucus and Turning Point USA, as well as Texas Right to Life and more than 20 Republican state legislators.
Crenshaw Defends Conservative Record
Crenshaw, a former Navy SEAL who lost his right eye while serving in Afghanistan, had built a national profile during his four terms in Congress.
Serving on the powerful House Intelligence Committee, he often focused on national security and defense issues.
Despite his conservative voting record, Crenshaw occasionally found himself at odds with the most hardline factions of the Republican Party.
Ahead of the primary, he pushed back strongly against claims that he was insufficiently loyal to Trump.
“My relationship with Trump is good,” Crenshaw told the Houston Chronicle before the election.
He pointed to his work with key members of the Trump administration, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and FBI Director Kash Patel, noting that his role on the Intelligence Committee required close cooperation with the White House.
“You’d have to not pay attention to any of that to think I’m not ‘Trump’ enough,” Crenshaw said.
Shifting Political Landscape
The defeat reflects how Republican primary voters in some districts are increasingly favoring candidates who strongly identify with the MAGA movement.
Toth emphasized that theme throughout the campaign, at one point comparing Crenshaw to former Republican Rep. Liz Cheney, who lost her congressional seat after breaking with Trump.
Crenshaw’s support among GOP voters had already shown signs of weakening in recent years.
While he ran unopposed in the 2020 Republican primary and easily won the 2022 nomination with roughly two-thirds of the vote, his support slipped to around 60% in the 2024 primary, according to election data.
Redistricting changes ahead of the 2026 election also reshaped parts of the district, bringing areas represented by Toth into the congressional race and expanding the challenger’s base of support.
Fundraising Advantage Not Enough
Crenshaw entered the race with a significant financial advantage and support from several prominent national Republicans.
His endorsements included Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna of Florida, the National Border Patrol Council, and the National Rifle Association.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise also expressed support for Crenshaw ahead of the election.
However, the endorsements were not enough to overcome the momentum behind Toth’s campaign among conservative activists and grassroots voters.
Looking Ahead to the General Election
With the Republican primary decided, Toth now moves on to the general election in November.
He will face Democratic nominee Shaun Finnie, an investment banker who ran unopposed in the Democratic primary.
The general election will determine who will represent Texas’ 2nd Congressional District, which covers parts of the greater Houston region and surrounding communities.
Toth’s primary victory is already being viewed by political analysts as another sign of the continuing influence of the MAGA movement within the Republican Party — particularly in competitive primary contests where ideological loyalty to Trump remains a powerful factor for many GOP voters.
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