U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) attends a U.S. Senate Commerce Committee hearing on broadcast media ownership rules, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 10, 2026. REUTERS/Annabelle Gordon
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) dealt a blow to one of the Texas GOP's most embattled incumbent congressmen, Rep. Dan Crenshaw, by endorsing his primary challenger — and according to CNN, it's the culmination of years of escalating bad blood between the two that saw Crenshaw help sink one of Cruz's signature pieces of legislation.
Crenshaw is facing one of his hardest elections yet, against a hardliner GOP Texas state legislator, megachurch pastor Steve Toth. President Donald Trump and Gov. Greg Abbott went out of their way not to make an endorsement in the race, with Trump conspicuous as he endorsed in every single other race.
This leaves Cruz as the most significant figure to make an endorsement for Toth.
"Crenshaw, the Navy SEAL who has rocketed to national fame for his confrontational style, has spent years fighting with 'Make America Great Again' allies who see him as insufficiently loyal to President Donald Trump. Now, days before his primary, Crenshaw’s previously unreported feud with Cruz reflects how the congressman is facing major enemies in his already tough reelection bid," said the report.
The tension between Crenshaw and Cruz began in 2021, when the senator's associates feared Crenshaw was mounting a primary challenge — something he did not end up doing, but resulted in a heated phone call between the two. Then in 2024, according to sources, Cruz sought Crenshaw's endorsement, but plans to connect over the issue fell through.
"Cruz stayed out of Crenshaw’s primary until last week, after Crenshaw unloaded on a businessman who’s also a close Cruz ally and longtime donor," said the report. "The same day, hours later, Crenshaw helped to tank Cruz’s single biggest legislative priority on the House floor, an air safety bill spurred by last year’s deadly plane crash in Washington."
This comes as Texas Republicans face several other points of drama in next week's primary, including a bitter three-way race for the Senate nomination that has incumbent John Cornyn fighting for his life, and Rep. Tony Gonzales also in danger of being unseated by gun rights activist Brandon Herrera following sexual misconduct allegations.