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Montgomery Today
By the People, for the People
Texas Rep. Dan Crenshaw Ousted in GOP Primary by MAGA Challenger
Hardline conservative Steve Toth defeated the incumbent congressman after a campaign painting Crenshaw as insufficiently loyal to Trump.
Published on Mar. 4, 2026
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Texas Rep. Dan Crenshaw, once a rising GOP star, lost his Republican primary to a hardline MAGA challenger, state Rep. Steve Toth. Toth's successful campaign portrayed Crenshaw as not conservative or loyal enough to former President Donald Trump, and he won by a 16-point margin. Crenshaw's defeat was partly attributed to the GOP's redistricting efforts in Texas, which moved his district to include Toth's home base of Montgomery County, where Crenshaw's unfavorables were high.
Why it matters
Crenshaw's loss is a sign of the Republican Party's continued shift toward more extreme, Trump-aligned candidates, even among previously prominent figures. It also highlights the impact of gerrymandering and redistricting on election outcomes, as the redrawn congressional map appeared to play a key role in Crenshaw's defeat.
The details
Toth, who was endorsed by Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, successfully painted Crenshaw as insufficiently conservative and loyal to Trump during the campaign. Crenshaw, a former Navy SEAL known for his distinctive eye patch, had previously broken with Trump on some issues, including rejecting his false claims about the 2020 election. Crenshaw also faced a series of controversies, including an 'alcohol-related episode' during a foreign delegation trip to Mexico.
- On August 2025, Texas redrew its congressional map, giving the GOP five new seats.
- In July 2025, Toth said Crenshaw's unfavorables were 'really high' in Montgomery County, which was moved into Crenshaw's new district.
- On Tuesday, March 4, 2026, Toth defeated Crenshaw in the GOP primary by 16 percentage points.
The players
Dan Crenshaw
A Texas congressman and former Navy SEAL who was once a rising GOP star but lost his primary to a more hardline MAGA challenger.
Steve Toth
A Texas state representative who defeated Crenshaw in the GOP primary after running a campaign portraying the incumbent as insufficiently conservative and loyal to Trump.
Ted Cruz
A Texas senator who endorsed Toth in the primary race against Crenshaw.
What they’re saying
“He was not in good shape—that's to put it lightly. In Montgomery County, his unfavorables were really high, through the roof… So we're very encouraged by it.”
— Steve Toth, Texas state representative (Punchbowl News)
What’s next
Toth is now all but certain to win November's general election in the heavily Republican Texas 2nd Congressional District.
The takeaway
Crenshaw's loss is a sign of the Republican Party's continued shift toward more extreme, Trump-aligned candidates, even among previously prominent figures, and highlights the impact of gerrymandering and redistricting on election outcomes.
