Story perspectives

Crenshaw Blames Misinformation for Shocking Primary Loss

3/15/2026

Summary

Story summary

Outgoing Republican Texas Representative Dan Crenshaw attributed his primary loss to online misinformation.
Crenshaw lost to Republican State Representative Steve Toth by 15 percentage points, despite being favored.
He said voters believed false narratives about him, including insider trading, and suggested Democrats used targeted advertising.
Crenshaw did not receive an endorsement from U.S. President Donald Trump, while Steve Toth was backed by Senator Ted Cruz.

History

Historical Context

The 2016 U.S. Presidential Election, held on November 8, saw Donald Trump defeat Hillary Clinton despite losing the popular vote by nearly 2.9 million. This election was marked by significant Russian interference, with over 126 million Americans exposed to misinformation on social media. The ongoing challenges of misinformation continue to impact American politics, as seen in Dan Crenshaw's recent primary loss influenced by false narratives.

1 of 2

Story summary

Outgoing Republican Texas Representative Dan Crenshaw attributed his primary loss to online misinformation.
Crenshaw lost to Republican State Representative Steve Toth by 15 percentage points, despite being favored.
He said voters believed false narratives about him, including insider trading, and suggested Democrats used targeted advertising.
Crenshaw did not receive an endorsement from U.S. President Donald Trump, while Steve Toth was backed by Senator Ted Cruz.

1 / 2