Three states begin 2026 midterm elections with primaries
Voters in Texas, Arkansas and North Carolina will head to the polls to decide the Republican and Democratic candidates for November’s congressional elections.
Texas Rep. Steve Toth’s upset victory over four-term Rep. Dan Crenshaw in the Republican congressional primary was one of the most surprising moments early in the 2026 midterm season, NBC News and the Associated Press reported.
On March 3, Mr. Toth declared victory over incumbent Mr. Crenshaw in Texas’ newly drawn 2nd Congressional District. On his way to victory, Mr. Toth led Mr. Crenshaw by nearly 19 points in the Houston-area district, according to NBC News and the Associated Press.
“The voters of Congressional District 2 want a representative in D.C. who stands by his beliefs, fights for his constituents, and follows through on his promises. I will not let them down,” Toth said in a news release, according to the Texas Tribune.
Toth’s primary victory was also strengthened by support from longtime Texas Sen. Ted Cruz.
“Steve is an unwavering warrior for school choice, fiscal responsibility, and the next generation of Americans,” Cruz said in a Feb. 24 post on the X Show. “We need bold leadership and representation in Washington who will stand up for Texans at every turn.”
Crenshaw is running for a fifth term in a newly mapped district.
In addition to potentially losing money due to Texas’ controversial new redistricting, Crenshaw also lost the support of President Donald Trump.
As a result, Crenshaw, a former Navy SEAL who lost his right eye fighting for the United States in Afghanistan, becomes the only House Republican in Texas running for re-election without the president’s support.
Still, Crenshaw remained optimistic as voters headed to the polls.
“You know, my opponents, like Tucker Carlson and Ted Cruz, came out with knives for no good reason,” Crenshaw told Fox News Digital on March 3, adding that he would like to avoid a runoff but would not rule out the idea.
“Anything is possible,” Crenshaw added.
