Republican voters in Texas delivered a major political upset, voting to remove Rep. Dan Crenshaw from office after he lost his primary race to Texas state Rep. Steve Toth.
With about 88 percent of the vote counted, Toth defeated Crenshaw by a wide margin, 56 percent to 40 percent. The result marks the first time an incumbent member of Congress has lost a reelection bid during the 2026 midterm cycle.
Toth received backing from Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, while President Donald Trump chose to remain neutral in the race. Notably, Crenshaw was the only Republican incumbent in the Texas congressional delegation who did not receive Trump’s endorsement during the primary season.
Because Texas’ 2nd Congressional District is considered strongly Republican, Toth is widely expected to win the general election in November after avoiding a runoff by securing a majority of the vote in the primary.
In a statement declaring victory, Toth said voters wanted a representative who would firmly defend conservative principles in Washington.
“Congressional District 2 voters want a representative in D.C. who will stand firm in his convictions, fight for his constituents, and follow through on his promises,” Toth said. “I won’t let them down.”
Crenshaw, a former Navy SEAL who lost an eye in combat, rose to national prominence shortly after winning his first term when he appeared on Saturday Night Live. Over time, however, he drew criticism from some conservatives over several positions, including his strong support for continued U.S. assistance to Ukraine.
He also became a frequent target of conservative commentator Tucker Carlson and clashed publicly with figures such as Jesse Watters.
The tensions escalated in early 2025 when a video surfaced appearing to show Crenshaw saying he would kill Carlson during a conversation with journalist Steven Edginton. Crenshaw later denied the remark after being confronted by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, though video clips circulated widely online.
Crenshaw also sparred with Sen. Tommy Tuberville during a dispute over military nominations tied to abortion-related travel policies for service members following the Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade.
With Crenshaw now out of the race, Toth appears poised to take the seat and represent Texas’ 2nd District in the next Congress.
