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By Jordan King
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Multiple MAGA supporters are mocking Houston Representative Dan Crenshaw for losing Tuesday’s Republican primary election after he failed to secure an endorsement from President Donald Trump.
State Representative Steve Toth defeated Crenshaw after picking up an endorsement late in the primary from Senator Ted Cruz. Neither candidate was endorsed by Trump.
Many who mocked Crenshaw called him a "RINO," which stands for "Republican in name only," a phrase some conservatives use for people they believe are not aligned enough with traditional Republican principles.
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Political commentator Evan Kilgore said: "Today is a great day in the Texas primaries. Bye bye, RINO Dan!"
"Incumbent RINO Dan Crenshaw didn't just lose his primary to Steve Toth, he lost his primary by double digits," said Brigitte Gabriel, founder of advocacy group Act for America.
Why It Matters
The 2nd District north and east of Houston is heavily Republican, meaning the primary winner is overwhelmingly favored in November, amplifying the policy and political implications of Tuesday’s result.
Crenshaw was the only sitting Texas House Republican on the ballot without Trump's endorsement, according to The Associated Press, underscoring the political liability of lacking the president’s backing among GOP voters.
The result highlights a power struggle inside the Texas GOP, where loyalty tests to Trump and hard-right policy litmus became central, even as Trump withheld an endorsement in the race
What To Know
Toth secured a late endorsement from Republican Senator Ted Cruz after Crenshaw voted against a bipartisan aviation safety bill Cruz championed, according to CBS News.
Crenshaw, a former Navy SEAL who lost his right eye in Afghanistan, often clashed with elements of his party’s right flank over his acknowledgment of Joe Biden’s 2020 victory and his criticism of GOP "grifters" and "performance artists."
What People Are Saying
Conservative journalist Eric Daugherty wrote on X: "Texas Rep. Dan Crenshaw LOSES Republican primary to Steve Toth, he will now be UNSEATED come November in District 2. President Trump notably did not endorse Crenshaw. Wow! UPSET LOSS for Crenshaw."
Conservative political influencer Bo Loudon said: "Texas just SERIOUSLY UPGRADED! RINO Dan Crenshaw just LOST his primary…Texas is DONE with RINOs!"
MAGA influencer Nick Sortor said in a post on X: Dan Crenshaw, also known as Eyepatch McCain, has LOST HIS SEAT in Texas' 2nd Congressional District to Steve Toth YES! THANK YOU TEXAS! Crenshaw has been in a NON-STOP spiral in the past year, threatening to KlLL Tucker Carlson, and even being banned from Congressional trips for a period due to allegedly drunkenly harassing foreign counterparts. Enjoy unemployment, Crenshaw!"
Steve Toth said in a victory statement: "This campaign has been a referendum on representatives who campaign one way and govern another, and the people have spoken."
Who is Steve Toth?
Toth, 65, is a Texas state representative, a small-business owner with a background in construction and consulting, and a member of the state Legislature’s hard-right caucus, according to the AP.
He campaigned as a staunch conservative and an avid supporter of Trump, positioning himself as more aligned with the former president than Crenshaw.
What Does Steve Toth Stand For?
Toth emphasized hard-line immigration and border security positions while criticizing Crenshaw over Ukraine aid and for not echoing Trump’s unsubstantiated claims about the 2020 election being stolen from him, according to The Hill.
On the trail, he portrayed himself as the more Trump-aligned option and highlighted Cruz’s endorsement after Crenshaw voted against a bipartisan aviation safety bill Cruz championed.
What Happens Next
Given the district’s strong Republican tilt, Toth will likely be favored to win the general election in November, positioning him to join the next Congress.
In Congress, Toth will likely emphasize alignment with conservative priorities he campaigned on, while Texas Republicans assess whether the primary outcome will encourage additional challenges to incumbents seen as out of step with the party’s base.
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