Texas Rep. Steve Toth Defeats Dan Crenshaw in GOP Primary
In a major primary upset with national implications, State Rep. Steve Toth defeated four-term incumbent U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw in the Republican primary for Texas’s 2nd Congressional District on March 17, unseating one of the most recognizable GOP members of Congress.
With most precincts reporting, Toth opened a decisive lead and declared victory hours before the race was formally called. The Associated Press later confirmed the result.
The outcome effectively ends Crenshaw’s congressional career, barring an unforeseen political return, and positions Toth as the heavy favorite to win the Houston-area seat in November in a district that leans reliably Republican.
The race had evolved into a proxy battle over the ideological direction of the Republican Party, particularly within Texas.
Toth ran as an unapologetic MAGA-aligned conservative, arguing that Crenshaw had drifted away from grassroots priorities and had not consistently delivered on campaign promises.
In a statement following his victory, Toth emphasized commitment and follow-through. “Congressional District 2 voters want a representative in D.C. who will stand firm in his convictions, fight for his constituents, and follow through on his promises. I won’t let them down,” Toth said.
The language was widely interpreted as a pointed contrast with Crenshaw, who had campaigned in previous cycles as a strong conservative but had drawn criticism from parts of the Republican base over several high-profile positions.
Crenshaw, a former Navy SEAL who lost an eye in combat and rose quickly in national GOP circles after first being elected in 2018, had typically cleared primaries with double-digit margins.
This cycle proved markedly different. Despite outraising Toth by approximately $1.3 million, Crenshaw was unable to overcome mounting dissatisfaction among conservative activists and primary voters.
Toth’s campaign framed the race as a referendum on what he described as “establishment Republicanism” versus a more populist, America First approach.
According to reporting from the Texas Tribune, Toth is widely considered one of the most conservative members of the Texas House.
He has frequently clashed with party leadership and has questioned policy decisions by Gov. Greg Abbott.
The primary also drew the involvement of prominent conservative figures. Sen. Ted Cruz backed Toth, as did Turning Point Action, a national grassroots organization aligned with the party’s right flank.
Crenshaw also faced backlash for comments made after the 2020 presidential election. While some Republican lawmakers called for sweeping investigations into alleged irregularities, Crenshaw publicly rejected claims of systemic fraud altering the outcome.
“It was always a lie. The whole thing was always a lie,” Crenshaw said in a 2022 interview, criticizing what he characterized as political theatrics surrounding the issue.
Those remarks alienated segments of the GOP base who believed the election required deeper scrutiny.
During the 2026 campaign, critics also accused Crenshaw of insufficient loyalty to President Donald Trump. Trump did not endorse Crenshaw in the primary, a notable absence in a race increasingly defined by alignment with the president.
Toth amplified additional lines of attack during interviews, including raising questions about congressional stock trading and political accountability.
Crenshaw strongly denied allegations that he had profited improperly from stock transactions, stating that he had not made a trade in three years and that his total gains during his time in office amounted to less than $46,000.
Following his defeat, Crenshaw attributed the result in part to online misinformation and what he described as the “power of clickbait.”
In comments to the Texas Tribune, he said many voters were reacting to narratives that did not accurately reflect his record.
Texas’s 2nd Congressional District encompasses parts of northern and eastern Harris County, including suburban communities north of Houston.
The district has trended Republican in recent cycles, meaning the GOP nominee typically enters the general election with a structural advantage.
BREAKING: Dolly Parton’s Cause Of Death Revealed: ‘Brief Battle’
Dolly Parton’s death came after a brief battle with cancer, her representatives revealed Tuesday.
The country music legend died Aug. 25 at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville. She was 80.
Parton had been admitted to the cancer center Friday, four days before her death. Her representatives confirmed the cancer diagnosis in a statement to PEOPLE but did not disclose what type she had.
“Our beloved Dolly Parton spent her life and career bringing joy, laughter, hope and integrity into everything she touched. Her unmatched generosity reached the lives of countless people whom she would never meet, yet she was always there to offer a helping hand,” the statement read.
“Whether it be the hundreds of millions of books donated through her invaluable Imagination Library or funding research that helped create a lifesaving vaccine used around the world, Dolly’s unconditional love for all people was the guiding force for her lasting impact. After bravely facing a brief battle with cancer, Dolly departed her Earthly life today at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones,” the statement concluded.
The “Jolene” singer had also been dealing with kidney and autoimmune issues before her death, PEOPLE previously reported.
Just days earlier, Dolly Parton opened up about her declining health and acknowledged that she had put off addressing some medical issues while caring for her husband, Carl.
“As I’ve shared in video messages throughout the past year, I am dealing with some health issues that I just didn’t pay attention to when I was watching over [my husband] Carl. You know, this isn’t the first time I’ve had to manage something like this. Back in the early ’80s, I was down for several months with female issues, and I was struggling with my weight at the time too, so it’s not like I haven’t been through hard times with my health,” Parton told PEOPLE.
Her nephew, Bryan Seaver, announced her death in an Instagram video Tuesday on behalf of the Parton and Owens family.
“My name is Bryan Seaver, son of Cassie Parton, and I’m representing the Parton and Owens family today announcing the passing of my aunt, Dolly Rebecca Parton Dean, Sister, Sis and Granny to one generation and Gigi to the next,” he says in the video.
Seaver, who served as Parton’s head of security for more than two decades, said she had asked him years earlier to deliver the announcement.
“This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago, before I fully absorbed it as a future reality,” he continued. “As her head of security for more than two decades, a role my father Larry held before me, I have imagined the heaviness of this moment but haven’t truly felt it until now.”
Seaver said the moment brought immense pride and heartbreak, but he took comfort in his faith that Parton had been reunited with Carl and other loved ones.
Seaver added: “It is an honor, an honor that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness. But sadness lies with us, not with Dolly. Dolly has lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus, surely met by Carl, her parents and countless othe
Shocking 'truth' behind Prince Harry's decision to quit major role
Prince Harry should have "resigned in disgrace" from the board of a controversial African wildlife charity, a commentator says. James Walker makes the bombshell remark in Wednesday's episode of this publication's podcast, Daily Expresso.
He and the show's host, JJ Anisiobi, delve into the Duke of Sussex's dramatic decision to step down from African Parks. James, commenting on the controversy, said: "When you hear about this stuff and how long it's been going on for, you should be resigning in disgrace. [Harry] should be saying: 'I'm not touching that with a barge pole. That is a failed entity. We're going nowhere near it'.
"But no. He's still saying he's going to 'support their mission'. And again this Caroline Pearce, executive director of Survival International, goes on to say: 'His departure doesn't undo that record'.
"She alleged that African Parks was aware of the abuses for years, but it was only after Survival complained to Harry that the charity finally commissioned an investigation."
James added: "Well, she's got a point."
It emerged on Monday (August 24) that Harry was no longer a board member of the wildlife charity.
The conservation organisation has admitted that human rights abuses were committed by its rangers against members of the semi-nomadic Baka group in Congo-Brazzaville.
African Parks has said since that it has improved its safeguarding processes both in the Odzala-Kokoua National Park and institutionally.
Its admission followed an independent human rights investigation into allegations guards managed and paid by the charity had beaten, raped and tortured indigenous people in Odzala-Kokoua National Park.
Harry was president of the charity for six years before he became a member of its board of directors in 2023.
A spokesman for the Duke said he remains an active and avid supporter of African Parks. He added: "The Duke is proud of his 10 years with African Parks and fully supports the ongoing strengthening of its board.
"His commitment to conservation in Africa continues and he remains a supporter of African Parks’ mission."
Human rights organisation, Survival International, said it had been calling on Harry to step down from African Parks for years.
The group's director, Caroline Pearce, said in a statement: "It’s outrageous that for 10 years Prince Harry has served African Parks while the organisation has been responsible for abuse and violence against Indigenous people.
"His departure doesn't undo that record — African Parks itself must now be held accountable, and must abandon this model of fortress conservation for good."
Survival International said indigenous peoples know how best to manage their land and the idea outsiders know better is racist and colonial.
