Texas Primaries Oust Crenshaw and Force Multiple House Incumbents Into Runoffs Amid Anti‑Incumbent Mood
Hard‑right Texas state Rep. Steve Toth, buoyed by Ted Cruz and MAGA backers, defeated incumbent GOP Rep. Dan Crenshaw in the primary — a loss framed as a pro‑ vs. anti‑MAGA proxy fight after months of intra‑party friction that eroded Crenshaw’s support; Crenshaw, a former Navy SEAL who publicly acknowledged Biden’s 2020 win, was the only Texas House Republican running without a Trump endorsement. The defeat was part of a broader anti‑incumbent night that forced four other House members into runoffs, including Al Green vs. Christian Menefee (TX‑18), Tony Gonzales vs. Brandon Herrera (TX‑23) and Julie Johnson vs. Colin Allred (TX‑33), and highlights growing primary pressure on incumbents nationwide.
📌 Key Facts
- Republican state Rep. Steve Toth defeated U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw in the Texas GOP primary, a result called by the Associated Press and reported by ABC, ending Crenshaw’s reelection bid.
- The contest was widely framed as a pro‑ vs. anti‑MAGA proxy fight: Ted Cruz and MAGA‑aligned groups backed Toth, while Crenshaw — who went into the primary as the only Texas House Republican without a Trump endorsement — drew support from figures like Jim Jordan, Anna Paulina Luna, the National Border Patrol Council, the NRA and Steve Scalise.
- Fox News detailed endorsements and coalition lineups on both sides and described years‑long turmoil between Crenshaw and the MAGA faction that questioned his loyalty to Trump.
- Reports described a heated airport confrontation in which Crenshaw accused Cruz of working against him; days later Cruz ran an on‑air endorsement ad for Toth.
- Crenshaw defended his Trump ties, citing work with Pete Hegseth, John Ratcliffe and Kash Patel via the House Intelligence Committee and saying “my relationship with Trump is good,” even as he lacked Trump’s endorsement.
- Background on Crenshaw: he is a former Navy SEAL who lost his right eye in Afghanistan and was one of the few Texas Republicans to publicly say Joe Biden legitimately won the 2020 election; his prior primary margins showed erosion (unopposed in 2020, about two‑thirds of the vote in 2022, roughly 60% in 2024) before this defeat.
- Crenshaw’s loss came on a broader, brutal Texas primary night that pushed four other U.S. House members into runoffs.
- Axios identified those Texas runoffs (Al Green vs. Christian Menefee in TX‑18; Tony Gonzales vs. Brandon Herrera in TX‑23; Julie Johnson vs. Colin Allred in TX‑33) and placed the Texas results in a wider national context — noting 30 House Democrats already face primary challengers who have raised at least $100,000 (about a dozen have been out‑raised) — and highlighted other GOP pressure points outside Texas (Ken Calvert vs. Young Kim in California; Thomas Massie vs. Trump‑backed Ed Gallrein in Kentucky; Will Hurd facing a challenger after losing Trump’s endorsement) as well as the near‑final NC‑4 Foushee–Allam result that underscores age and ideological splits within the Democratic Party.
📰 Source Timeline (4)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
March 04, 2026
4:03 PM
Brutal Texas primary night points to trouble ahead for House incumbents
New information:
- Frames Crenshaw’s defeat as part of a wider 'brutal night' in Texas where four other House members were pushed into runoffs.
- Identifies specific Texas runoffs: Al Green vs. Christian Menefee in TX‑18, Tony Gonzales vs. Brandon Herrera in TX‑23, and Julie Johnson vs. Colin Allred in TX‑33.
- Highlights broader national trend data: 30 House Democrats already face primary challengers who have raised at least $100,000; a dozen have been out‑raised.
- Notes additional GOP primary pressure points outside Texas, including Ken Calvert vs. Young Kim in California, Thomas Massie vs. Trump‑backed Ed Gallrein in Kentucky, and Will Hurd facing a challenger after losing Trump’s endorsement.
- Places the near‑final NC‑4 Foushee–Allam result in this pattern, emphasizing age and ideological splits within the Democratic Party.
6:15 AM
Dan Crenshaw defeated by Cruz-backed state lawmaker in Texas GOP primary, boosting MAGA clout
New information:
- Fox article emphasizes the years‑long "turmoil" between Crenshaw and the MAGA faction questioning his loyalty to Trump, framing the race as a clear pro‑ vs. anti‑MAGA proxy fight.
- Provides granular endorsement lineups on both sides: Toth backed by Ted Cruz, House Freedom Caucus, Turning Point USA and others; Crenshaw backed by Jim Jordan, Anna Paulina Luna, the National Border Patrol Council, NRA and supported by Steve Scalise.
- Details the reported airport confrontation where Crenshaw accused Cruz of working against him and Cruz allegedly replied, "If I’m working against you, you’re gonna know it," followed days later by Cruz’s on‑air endorsement ad for Toth.
- Adds Crenshaw’s defense of his Trump ties, citing work with Pete Hegseth, John Ratcliffe and Kash Patel via the House Intelligence Committee and insisting “my relationship with Trump is good.”
- Notes Crenshaw’s prior primary performance trend (unopposed in 2020, about two‑thirds of the vote in 2022, then down to ~60% in 2024) to show erosion before this defeat.
6:12 AM
GOP challenger Steve Toth ousts Rep. Dan Crenshaw in Texas primary
New information:
- Confirms Associated Press/ABC call that Steve Toth has defeated Rep. Dan Crenshaw in the primary, formally ending Crenshaw’s reelection bid.
- Notes explicitly that Crenshaw was the only Texas House Republican running in 2026 without a Trump endorsement going into the primary.
- Adds biographical and political context: Crenshaw is a former Navy SEAL who lost his right eye in Afghanistan and was one of the few Texas Republicans to publicly affirm that Joe Biden legitimately won the 2020 election.
- Reiterates that Toth is from Conroe, sits in the Texas House, and is part of the chamber’s hard‑right caucus, underscoring the faction that just unseated Crenshaw.