The House Freedom Caucus is set to expand its presence among Texas representatives following a successful primary season, where two candidates endorsed by the group’s political arm secured their victories, and a third nearly clinched a win in a competitive nine-way race.
Tuesday marked a significant advance for the conservative faction, known for often challenging the leadership within the House GOP, as it could potentially double its Texas representation in the upcoming Congress. This shift is expected to further tilt the state’s congressional delegation to the right, welcoming members who are likely to adhere to the group’s obstructionist strategies.
The Freedom Caucus, known for its uncompromising conservative stance and readiness to defy GOP leaders, includes the most right-leaning members of the House, who are vocal proponents of reducing spending and tightening immigration policies. Currently, the caucus comprises 30 members and has shown a willingness to employ procedural tactics to block or delay legislation supported by Republican leaders.
At present, four Texans are part of the Freedom Caucus. However, it will soon lose one of its most vocal members, Rep. Chip Roy, R-Austin, who has decided not to seek reelection in order to run for Texas attorney general.
On the other hand, state Rep. Steve Toth has emerged victorious over Atascocita Rep. Dan Crenshaw, a critic of the Freedom Caucus. Toth received backing from the Freedom Caucus Fund, which claims to be “the only organization solely dedicated to defending and growing the House Freedom Caucus.” The Conroe Republican, who previously served in the Texas House Freedom Caucus, expressed his intention to join the U.S. House version of the group. “I would like to join the Freedom Caucus in D.C., absolutely,” Toth stated. “I’m going to be a strong voice. There’s wisdom in knowing when you’ve got to compromise, but there’s wisdom in knowing when to stand and fight.”
Additionally, two other candidates endorsed by the Freedom Caucus Fund—gun rights advocate and YouTuber Brandon Herrera, along with conservative attorney Jace Yarbrough—secured first place in their respective primaries and are advancing to runoffs.
Herrera will now become the Republican nominee in his district following the withdrawal of Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-San Antonio, from the race. Gonzales’ decision came after revelations about an affair with a staffer who tragically took her own life last year.
According to Allison Weisenberger, the executive director of the Freedom Caucus Fund, Tuesday was a “big night for Freedom Caucus Fund candidates.”
The defeat of Crenshaw is particularly significant, considering his ongoing disputes with Freedom Caucus members. In 2021, he referred to some within the party as “grifters” and pointed out that former Illinois Rep. Adam Kinzinger, a prominent Trump critic, voted in favor of the Trump agenda more often than some Freedom Caucus members. Crenshaw also controversially labeled GOP members who voted against California Rep. Kevin McCarthy’s speakership in 2023 as “terrorists,” for which he later apologized.
Weisenberger characterized Crenshaw’s loss as a repudiation of his views, labeling him a “Republican in Name Only.” She asserted, “Republican voters know the Freedom Caucus to be the conservative conscience of Congress, always fighting to pass President Trump’s America First agenda. On Tuesday, Dan Crenshaw, who called the House Freedom Caucus ‘terrorists,’ found out the final consequence for being a RINO—defeat at the hands of a Freedom Caucus Fund-endorsed candidate.”
In contrast, Crenshaw views Toth’s victory as a result of low voter turnout and misleading attacks against him. He expressed concerns that Toth’s reliance on obstructionist tactics could lead to reduced federal funding for the Houston-area district, predicting that Toth would oppose funding initiatives in Congress, a common tactic among Freedom Caucus members displeased with federal spending.
“Steve Toth will not get them flood mitigation funding,” Crenshaw warned. “He’ll vote against every appropriations bill. And when you’re like that, you don’t get anything for your district. Very similar to his record in the state House.”
Meanwhile, the ideological divide is stark between Herrera and Gonzales, who is considered a more moderate Republican and part of the centrist Problem Solvers’ Caucus. Gonzales has openly criticized some Freedom Caucus members and has described them using derogatory terms. He previously opposed a stringent immigration bill proposed by Roy, stating it would have an “anti-American” and “not Christian” impact by effectively eliminating asylum.
Yarbrough, competing for a North Texas seat that was redrawn to favor Republicans, performed well in his primary, nearly achieving an outright victory by surpassing the 50% threshold.
Additionally, three incumbent Texans within the Freedom Caucus—Reps. Michael Cloud, Brandon Gill, and Keith Self—easily secured their primary wins as they seek reelection.
Rep. Andy Harris, a Maryland Republican and chair of the Freedom Caucus, expressed anticipation for new members joining the Texas delegation in the upcoming Congress to advocate for conservative American principles and advance the President’s agenda.
Upcoming changes in the Texas congressional delegation will be shaped by primary losses, redistricting, and retirements, leading to a historically significant turnover, particularly among Republicans. While the departing members represent a range of ideological perspectives, their successors—new political figures influenced by the MAGA-dominated primaries prevalent in Texas Republican politics—are expected to lean further to the right.
Some conservative candidates who may not initially receive endorsements from the Freedom Caucus Fund often align with the group once in Congress, as seen with Self. With many new faces entering the delegation, the ranks of the Freedom Caucus could grow beyond those candidates formally endorsed.
Jon Bonck, a mortgage broker and Baptist deacon endorsed early by Sen. Ted Cruz, is viewed as a potential ally by caucus insiders. Although the fund did not endorse Bonck or provide campaign support, he finished at the top in the open primary for Texas’ 38th Congressional District, which encompasses Houston’s Energy Corridor and the northwestern suburbs of Harris County. He narrowly missed an outright victory and heads into the runoff as the front-runner against opponent Shelly deZevallos, who trailed him by 28 points, according to unofficial results. Bonck has garnered endorsements from several House Freedom Caucus members, including Gill and founding chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio.
One notable consequence of the hard-right successes in the primaries and the retirements of moderate members is the diminishing presence of Texas Republicans who voted to certify the 2020 presidential election results. Following the January 6 Capitol attack in 2021, the House voted to affirm Joe Biden’s victory, despite objections from numerous Republicans. Out of the 23 House Republicans from Texas at that time, 16 voted against certifying the election results from Pennsylvania, with 15 of those also opposing the certification of Arizona’s electoral votes.
Crenshaw and Gonzales were among the five Republicans who chose to certify. The others included Rep. Van Taylor, who has since retired, while Roy and Rep. Michael McCaul are also set to leave at the conclusion of their current terms.
