Ten incumbent House lawmakers lost their 2026 primaries — three Republicans and seven Democrats — in a wave of anti-establishment fury that reshaped both parties.
On the Republican side, President Trump’s endorsement became the ultimate kingmaker, delivering defeats to sitting lawmakers who fell out of favor with the MAGA base.
The Democrat side saw an even bigger bloodbath: seven incumbents ousted, many by far-left Democratic Socialists of America-backed challengers who ran on defund-the-police and anti-Israel platforms.
Rep. Dan Crenshaw of Texas became the first major Republican casualty. Crenshaw was the only Texas GOP House incumbent running for re-election who did NOT receive Trump’s endorsement. He lost the primary for Texas’ 2nd Congressional District to state Rep. Steve Toth.
Trump endorsed Toth after the primary. Crenshaw has served since 2019.
Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky lost the GOP primary for Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District to Trump-backed Navy SEAL veteran Ed Gallrein in what reports called the most expensive U.S. House primary contest in history.
Massie has served in the House since late 2012 — his defeat sent shockwaves through the libertarian wing of the GOP.
Rep. Andy Ogles of Tennessee became the third Republican incumbent to fall, losing the GOP primary for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District to former state Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher despite initially having Trump’s endorsement.
Trump later backed Hatcher after the primary results came in.
“Last night was another good night for Endorsements, 8-1, and the 1 was a person who I remained loyal to even though he had virtually no chance of winning, and was running against a Great ‘Trump’ Candidate, and former Agricultural Commissioner of Tennessee, named Charlie Hatcher. Good luck Charlie! Run tough and hard. You have my Complete and Total Endorsement!” Trump declared in a Truth Social post.
Ogles has served since 2023.
The Democrat side saw a full-scale socialist revolt.
Rep. Shri Thanedar of Michigan lost the Democratic primary in Michigan’s 13th Congressional District to state Rep. Donavan McKinney, a Democratic socialist. Thanedar had renounced his Democratic Socialists of America membership in October 2023, though Detroit DSA leaders claimed he’d already been expelled by a 91% vote the month before.
Thanedar has served since 2023.
Rep. Dan Goldman of New York lost the Democratic primary in New York’s 10th Congressional District to former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander. Goldman took office in 2023.
Big Apple Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic socialist, backed Lander ahead of the primary.
Rep. Adriano Espaillat of New York lost the Democratic primary for New York’s 13th Congressional District to Democratic socialist Darializa Avila Chevalier, who was also endorsed by Mamdani.
Espaillat has served since 2017 and currently chairs the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.
Rep. Diana DeGette of Colorado lost the Democratic primary for Colorado’s 1st Congressional District to Democratic socialist Melat Kiros. DeGette has served in the House for nearly two decades since taking office in 1997.
Rep. Al Green of Texas lost the Democratic primary runoff for Texas’ 18th Congressional District to U.S. Rep. Christian Menefee. Green has served since 2005.
Rep. Julie Johnson of Texas lost the Democratic primary runoff for Texas’ 33rd Congressional District to former Rep. Colin Allred. Johnson has served since 2025.
Rep. John Larson of Connecticut lost the Democratic primary in Connecticut’s 1st Congressional District to former Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin.
Larson has served in the House since 1999 — making him one of the longest-serving incumbents to fall in this cycle.
The failed Texas and Tennessee incumbents grappled with redistricting that applied to this cycle.
He was expelled as a member on September 17th, by 91% of vote the general membership. He no longer had a membership to renounce.
— Mikal Goodman (@mikalgoodman.bsky.social) (@MikalGoodmanMI) October 11, 2023
I’m proud to be supporting my friend Brad Lander for Congress. @BradLander has spent his career taking on big fights for New York’s working families. He’ll bring principled leadership to Washington and make sure Congress works for the many, not just the few. pic.twitter.com/DJ5Xf1og22
— Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@ZohranKMamdani) February 25, 2026
