Republican challenger Steve Toth defeated U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw in the Texas primary, ousting the only House Republican in Texas who President Trump didn't endorse heading into the nation's first big primary of 2026.

Crenshaw, a former Navy SEAL whose independent streak sometimes clashed with fellow Republicans, spent the primary trying to fend off attacks from the party's hard right that he was not in step with Trump's agenda.

What the Left Is Saying

Democratic observers have highlighted the defeat as a potential signal of the GOP's internal struggles regarding loyalty to President Trump within the state.

What the Right Is Saying

Conservative factions focused their campaign efforts on the argument that Crenshaw was not in step with the Trump agenda during the primary contest.

What the Numbers Show

Election results confirmed the outcome, marking the first major primary contest of the 2026 election cycle in Texas.

The Bottom Line

This result may influence how incumbents align with party leadership in future primary cycles across the state.