Steve Toth Secures Republican Nomination for Texas’ 2nd Congressional District, Defeating Dan Crenshaw
State Representative Steve Toth has secured the Republican nomination for Texas’ 2nd Congressional District, defeating four-term incumbent U.S. Representative Dan Crenshaw. Toth declared victory on Tuesday, with primary results indicating a 15-point margin. Crenshaw's defeat marks the first time an incumbent member of Congress has lost renomination in the 2026 midterm election cycle.
Election Outcome
Steve Toth's victory represents a shift from previous primary elections where Representative Crenshaw had won by significant margins.
The 2nd Congressional District, located north of Houston, is considered a strongly Republican seat. Toth is anticipated to face Democrat businessman Shaun Finnie, who ran unopposed in his primary, in the November general election.
Campaign Dynamics
The primary race centered on which candidate demonstrated a stronger alignment with former President Donald Trump. Toth campaigned from a more conservative stance, asserting that Crenshaw's foreign policy and immigration views did not adequately align with the "MAGA" movement. During his re-election campaign, Crenshaw aimed to associate himself with Trump, emphasizing his support for Trump's policies and denying claims that he had abandoned the "America First Agenda."
Campaign finance data indicates that Representative Crenshaw outraised Toth by more than $1.3 million.
Key Differences and Criticisms
Throughout his tenure, Representative Crenshaw had taken positions that led to disagreements with some within his party.
These included his support for aid to Ukraine, his vote to certify the 2020 election results, and questioning claims about the 2020 election. He also faced criticism for comments made in 2019 regarding state legislators discussing "red flag laws," a stance he later expressed regret for and introduced legislation to prohibit federal funds for such laws. Opponents, including Steve Toth, utilized snippets of Crenshaw's 2019 video in their campaigns.
Crenshaw had also publicly criticized members of his party, referring to some as "grifters" and "performance artists."
Columns in publications such as the Houston Chronicle and Wall Street Journal suggested that his willingness to communicate certain "hard truths," such as acknowledging the 2020 election results and speaking against the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack, contributed to voter discontent among some conservatives.
Candidate Profiles
Steve Toth
A State Representative, Toth has served in the Texas legislature for over a decade and is recognized as a conservative member. He is a former megachurch pastor and local business owner.
Toth received support from U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, who endorsed him and appeared in a super PAC advertisement. He also garnered endorsements from organizations such as Turning Point Action and the House Freedom Caucus Fund, which characterized Crenshaw as a "Republican in Name Only." A pro-Toth super PAC received a $675,000 contribution from GOP donor Robert Marling. In 2024, Toth was among four Texas House Republicans who faced censure for campaigning against other party members they considered "liberal." Toth previously challenged former U.S. Representative Kevin Brady unsuccessfully in 2016.
Dan Crenshaw
A former Navy SEAL who lost his right eye during combat in Afghanistan and completed two additional overseas deployments, Crenshaw was first elected in 2018 and served four terms. His policy priorities have included opposing federal funding for gender-affirming care and addressing Mexican cartels. He received endorsements from organizations such as the National Rifle Association.
Crenshaw ran in this primary election without the endorsement of former President Trump.
Crenshaw's Post-Election Statement
Following his defeat, Representative Crenshaw attributed the outcome to "unfounded attacks" and "a culture of misinformation."
He cited "baseless attacks," including allegations of insider trading—for which he stated he made under $50,000 from stock market activity throughout his congressional career and had not made trades since March 2023—and the use of snippets from his 2019 comments on red flag laws. Crenshaw also stated that "memes became truth" and highlighted the influence of online influencers and podcasters, particularly in the Houston area, suggesting that many voters were influenced by "people who have no allegiance to the truth."