By: Staff Editor
Updated August 8, 2026
————————————————————————————————————-
As of Aug. 8, 2026, nine sitting U.S. House members—six Democrats and three Republicans—have formally lost renomination. A tenth, former Texas Rep. Tony Gonzales, is included by some analysts because he withdrew after being forced into a runoff, but he did not lose a runoff election. The tally may change as the remaining state primaries are completed.
Formal losses: 9 | Democrats: 6 | Republicans: 3 | Texas losses: 3 | Status: Primary season ongoing | Updated: Aug. 8, 2026
——————————————————————————————————————————-
The 2026 congressional primary season is delivering a clear warning to Washington: holding office is no longer enough to guarantee voters’ support.
As of August 8, nine sitting members of the U.S. House—six Democrats and three Republicans—have formally lost their party primaries. That number could grow because several states have not completed their primaries. Hawaii voters were casting ballots Saturday in another closely watched contest involving longtime Democratic Rep. Ed Case.
The defeats do not represent one simple nationwide movement. Some incumbents lost because congressional maps changed. Others were defeated over age, foreign policy, party loyalty, campaign controversies, corporate donations or frustration that established leaders were not producing results quickly enough.
Texas alone accounts for three of the nine formal House incumbent defeats.
U.S. House Incumbents Defeated in 2026 Primaries
| Incumbent | Party and district | Primary winner | Major issues |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dan Crenshaw | Republican, Texas District 2 | Steve Toth | Trump loyalty, immigration, Ukraine aid, redistricting and conservative dissatisfaction |
| Thomas Massie | Republican, Kentucky District 4 | Ed Gallrein | Trump opposition, Iran, Israel, federal spending, taxes and the Epstein files |
| Al Green | Democrat, Texas District 18 | Christian Menefee | Redistricting, generational change, experience and cryptocurrency spending |
| Julie Johnson | Democrat, Texas District 33 | Colin Allred | Redistricting, immigration, ICE, Palantir, fundraising and name recognition |
| Dan Goldman | Democrat, New York District 10 | Brad Lander | Israel and Gaza, housing costs, corporate money and progressive organizing |
| Adriano Espaillat | Democrat, New York District 13 | Darializa Avila Chevalier | Housing, immigration, ICE, Israel, generational change and grassroots organizing |
| Diana DeGette | Democrat, Colorado District 1 | Melat Kiros | Israel, corporate PAC money, Medicare for All, ICE and demand for new leadership |
| Shri Thanedar | Democrat, Michigan District 13 | Donavan McKinney | Detroit representation, corporate money, Israel, environmental justice and grassroots support |
| Andy Ogles | Republican, Tennessee District 5 | Charlie Hatcher | Redistricting, campaign-finance controversy, outside spending and competing endorsements |
Dan Crenshaw: Texas District 2
State Rep. Steve Toth defeated four-term Republican Rep. Dan Crenshaw by approximately 15 percentage points on March 3.
Toth presented the contest as a decision about the ideological direction of the Republican Party. Crenshaw is strongly conservative, but he had developed an adversarial relationship with parts of the MAGA movement. Critics attacked his support for Ukraine, positions on immigration and willingness to criticize hardline Republican lawmakers and conservative media personalities.
Crenshaw was also the only Texas Republican House incumbent seeking reelection without President Donald Trump’s endorsement. Toth received support from Sen. Ted Cruz, Turning Point Action and conservative activists.
Redistricting added more of Toth’s Montgomery County political base to the district, but the size of Crenshaw’s defeat indicated that the new boundaries were not the only factor. The race demonstrated that conservative voting records may not protect Republican incumbents who lose the confidence of influential MAGA voters and organizations. The Texas Tribune
Thomas Massie: Kentucky District 4
Former Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein defeated Republican Rep. Thomas Massie 54.9% to 45.1% on May 19.
President Trump personally recruited and endorsed Gallrein after repeated disputes with Massie. The Kentucky congressman opposed Trump’s major tax-and-spending legislation, criticized the war with Iran, opposed U.S. military aid to Israel and pushed for greater disclosure of government records connected to Jeffrey Epstein.
The election became a test of whether Republican primary voters valued Massie’s libertarian independence or loyalty to Trump’s agenda. Gallrein’s victory showed the continuing political danger Republicans face when they openly and repeatedly challenge the president.
The contest reportedly attracted approximately $32 million in spending, including money from Trump-aligned and pro-Israel organizations, making it one of the most expensive House primaries in American history. Reuters
Al Green: Texas District 18
Democratic Rep. Christian Menefee decisively defeated longtime Rep. Al Green in the May 26 runoff.
Republican-led redistricting combined much of Green’s existing district with the district Menefee had recently won in a special election. That created an unusual primary between two sitting Democratic members of Congress.
Green, 78, emphasized his more than 20 years of experience, civil-rights work and history of confronting Trump. Menefee, 38, represented generational change and argued that the district needed a new voice prepared to continue that fight.
Outside spending was another factor. A cryptocurrency-aligned super PAC spent heavily against Green, who had taken positions critical of parts of the crypto industry. The result was primarily a product of redistricting and voter preference, but the spending demonstrated how industry groups are increasingly using primaries to challenge lawmakers who oppose their priorities. The Texas Tribune
Julie Johnson: Texas District 33
Former Rep. Colin Allred defeated Democratic Rep. Julie Johnson 53.9% to 46.1% in the May 26 runoff.
Johnson succeeded Allred in Congress, but Texas’ new map transformed their former District 32 into a Republican-leaning seat. Johnson consequently ran in the heavily Democratic 33rd District, where Allred also entered the race after ending another Senate campaign.
The primary focused heavily on immigration and the Trump administration’s enforcement policies. Allred criticized Johnson’s past investments in Palantir, whose technology has been used by immigration authorities. Johnson challenged Allred over earlier congressional votes involving border and immigration policy.
Allred also possessed greater statewide name recognition from his 2024 Senate campaign. An artificial-intelligence-focused super PAC spent nearly $400,000 supporting him, adding technology policy and outside money to an already complicated redistricting-driven contest. The Texas Tribune
Dan Goldman: New York District 10
Former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander defeated Democratic Rep. Dan Goldman 64.1% to 35.9% on June 23.
Israel’s military campaign in Gaza became one of the defining issues. Goldman remained a strong supporter of Israel, while Lander called for restrictions on U.S. military assistance and took a more critical position toward the Israeli government.
Housing affordability was equally important. Lander emphasized rising rents, evictions and the fear that working families can no longer afford to remain in Manhattan and Brooklyn. He also criticized Goldman’s personal wealth and connections to major donors and pro-Israel political organizations.
Lander benefited from support from Sen. Bernie Sanders and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. His 28-point victory showed the strength of progressive organizing in safe Democratic urban districts. Ballotpedia election results
Adriano Espaillat: New York District 13
Community organizer Darializa Avila Chevalier defeated Democratic Rep. Adriano Espaillat 49.4% to 45.9% in a four-candidate primary.
Espaillat, 71, was a five-term congressman and chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. Avila Chevalier, 32, ran with support from Mamdani, the Democratic Socialists of America and Justice Democrats.
Housing was a major dividing line. Avila Chevalier advocated expanded public and social housing, stronger organizing protections for tenants and limits on rent increases. She also criticized Espaillat over corporate and real-estate donations.
Immigration enforcement and funding for ICE became another major dispute. Israel, Gaza and U.S. military assistance also divided the candidates and attracted substantial outside spending.
The result combined generational dissatisfaction, progressive grassroots organization and frustration with traditional party institutions. Ballotpedia election results
Diana DeGette: Colorado District 1
Democratic socialist Melat Kiros defeated 15-term Democratic Rep. Diana DeGette in Denver’s June 30 primary.
The contest was especially significant because DeGette was already considered a progressive Democrat. Both candidates supported Medicare for All, and both favored dismantling ICE. The primary therefore became less about traditional left-versus-center politics and more about experience, urgency and trust in established leadership.
Kiros, 29, argued that DeGette had become too closely connected to corporate interests and industries regulated by her congressional committees. DeGette, 68, responded that her seniority and experience would give Denver greater power if Democrats regained control of the House.
Israel was the clearest policy difference. Kiros opposed military assistance to Israel, while DeGette supported continued defensive assistance but opposed funding offensive weapons.
Kiros’ victory demonstrated that even progressive voting records may not protect longtime incumbents when voters want younger leadership and more aggressive action. The Colorado Sun
Shri Thanedar: Michigan District 13
State Rep. Donavan McKinney defeated Democratic Rep. Shri Thanedar approximately 52% to 48% in the Detroit-area primary on August 4.
McKinney presented himself as a lifelong Detroiter with a direct connection to working-class neighborhoods. Thanedar, a wealthy businessman who financed much of his own political career, faced criticism over corporate PAC contributions and taxpayer-funded advertisements promoting his congressional work.
McKinney campaigned on environmental justice, a Green New Deal, removing corporate money from politics and ending U.S. weapons and military assistance to Israel. He also received support from Sanders, Rep. Rashida Tlaib and other progressive leaders.
Thanedar had support from House Democratic leadership and substantially greater personal financial resources. McKinney’s victory showed that grassroots organization can overcome an incumbent’s spending advantage, particularly when voters believe a challenger has stronger local roots. Michigan Advance
Andy Ogles: Tennessee District 5
Former Tennessee Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher defeated Republican Rep. Andy Ogles 53.2% to 46.8% on August 6.
The loss was notable because Trump endorsed Ogles while Republican Gov. Bill Lee supported Hatcher. Hatcher campaigned as a conservative farmer and problem-solver who would work with Trump and House Republican leaders without the controversies associated with Ogles.
Ogles faced years of scrutiny over his campaign finances, including questions surrounding a reported personal campaign loan and a federal investigation in which his phone was seized and later returned.
Redistricting also dramatically changed the district, leaving Ogles with only a limited portion of his former constituency. A renewable-energy-aligned super PAC spent approximately $2 million supporting Hatcher and opposing Ogles.
The result showed that Trump’s endorsement remains powerful but is not always enough to overcome new district boundaries, controversy, local endorsements and major outside spending. Associated Press
Why Some Reports Count a 10th Incumbent
Some political analysts also count former Texas Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales as a 2026 primary casualty.
Gonzales did not formally lose a runoff election. He finished below 50% in the March primary and advanced to a runoff against Brandon Herrera. He then ended his reelection campaign after admitting to an affair with a congressional staff member and facing an ethics investigation. The runoff was canceled, and Herrera became the Republican nominee. Gonzales later resigned from Congress.
Because voters did not formally defeat Gonzales in the runoff, this article does not include him among the nine official primary losses. However, his campaign was effectively ended during the primary process, making him a legitimate 10th entry under a broader definition. The Texas Tribune
The Most Important National Issues Behind the Losses
Redistricting
New maps forced incumbents into unfamiliar territory, weakened their existing political bases and, in Texas, produced direct or indirect contests between current and former members of Congress.
Generational Change
Green, Espaillat and DeGette all faced much younger opponents. Their losses suggest that experience and seniority are no longer automatic advantages, particularly in safe Democratic districts.
Trump’s Control of the Republican Party
Massie and Crenshaw lost after becoming targets of Trump-aligned voters or organizations. Ogles lost despite Trump’s endorsement, demonstrating that the president’s influence remains substantial but has limits.
Israel, Gaza and Iran
Foreign policy became central in Democratic primaries in New York, Colorado and Michigan. It also contributed to Massie’s Republican defeat. Voters increasingly connected overseas military spending with domestic needs such as housing, healthcare and education.
Affordability and Housing
Progressive challengers successfully connected high rents, medical expenses, childcare costs and economic insecurity with dissatisfaction toward established politicians.
Corporate and Super PAC Spending
Pro-Israel, cryptocurrency, artificial-intelligence, renewable-energy and Trump-aligned organizations spent heavily in several races. In some contests, outside groups helped incumbents; in others, they financed the challengers.
Experience Versus Urgency
Many incumbents argued that committee assignments, seniority and legislative knowledge made them more effective. Challengers countered that decades of experience had not solved the problems voters confront every day.
Is 2026 an Anti-Incumbent Election?
Not necessarily.
Most House incumbents who sought renomination have still won their primaries. However, the number of losses is already above the post-World War II average of approximately 6.5 House primary defeats per election cycle. Analysts at the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics calculated a 97.1% renomination rate through June 24, which remained high but was below the historical average. Sabato’s Crystal Ball
The more accurate conclusion is that incumbents remain difficult to defeat—but the political protection once provided by seniority, fundraising and party leadership is becoming less reliable.
The 2026 primaries show that voters in both parties are willing to replace experienced lawmakers when they believe those representatives are disconnected from their district, insufficiently loyal to the party’s direction or unable to deliver meaningful change.
The primary season is not over, and this list may continue to grow before November.
