Texas Congressman Dan Crenshaw has been ousted from his seat in a stunning primary upset, losing to State Representative Steve Toth. This development marks the end of Crenshaw’s four-term tenure representing Texas’ Second Congressional District, which includes areas around Houston. A former Navy SEAL, Crenshaw faced increasing opposition from MAGA Republicans during his time in Congress. The Associated Press reported Toth’s victory, which also signifies a win for Texas Senator Ted Cruz, who recently endorsed Toth over Crenshaw. Toth, who is both an ordained pastor and a businessman with two pool maintenance companies, criticized Crenshaw for allegedly lacking conservative credentials and focusing too heavily on international matters.

In the first primaries of 2026, President Donald Trump endorsed all incumbent House Republicans seeking re-election—with the notable exception of Crenshaw. Similarly, Governor Greg Abbott withheld his endorsement from the incumbent congressman. Trump had previously refrained from endorsing Crenshaw in 2024, following Crenshaw’s refusal to challenge the certification of Trump’s 2020 election loss. Controversy surrounded Crenshaw last year when he was reportedly overheard threatening former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, which raised serious concerns.

In February 2025, Crenshaw reportedly expressed disdain for Carlson, saying, “If I ever meet him, I’ll [expletive] kill him,” and proceeded to label Carlson as “the worst person.” This comment came on the heels of a heated interview where Crenshaw criticized Carlson’s stance against U.S. aid to Ukraine, claiming Carlson was uninformed, as reported by Politico. Later, Carlson gave Toth a platform on his podcast, lauding him as a candidate who could “restore the party to sanity” by defeating Crenshaw, whom Carlson labeled an “unbalanced warmonger.” Additionally, Crenshaw, a member of the House Intelligence Committee, nearly sparked an international issue last year over alleged inappropriate comments made to a female Mexican official during a meeting in August, as reported by Punchbowl News.

The congressman’s conduct reportedly alarmed officials at the CIA’s Mexico City station enough that they sent a cable to the agency’s headquarters in Langley, Virginia, reporting what they viewed as unprofessional conduct tied to drinking, as well as a lack of decorum in front of Mexican officials. The remarks toasted by Crenshaw allegedly made a woman in the meeting uncomfortable, per sources who spoke with Punchbowl. Crenshaw was visiting America’s southern neighbor as head of the House Intelligence Committee’s cartel task force. That is a role he no longer holds. While Crenshaw voted reliably with Republican leadership, his acceptance of Joe Biden’s 2020 victory, his denunciations of right-wing ‘grifters,’ and his public spats with big-named conservative figures placed him in the crosshairs.