After serving in the House of Representatives for four years, Dan Crenshaw is hoping to be reelected once more.
Dan Crenshaw first came into the national spotlight in 2018 when, without any prior political experience or personal wealth to fund his campaign, he was elected as the Representative for Texas’s 2nd Congressional District, which includes the areas of Kingwood, Atascocita, Humble, Spring, etc.
Crenshaw’s upbringing began in Katy, Texas. His father worked internationally, and the future politician spent time in Ecuador and Colombia as a child. From a young age, Crenshaw knew that he wanted to serve in the NAVY SEALS. After graduating from Tufts University, Crenshaw earned his Naval officer commission through Navy ROTC, and he reported for SEAL training in Coronado, California. It was during this time that he met his future wife, Tara.
Crenshaw was first deployed to Fallujah, Iraq as part of SEAL Team Three, which was the first of his five total deployments. On his third deployment, while on a mission in Helmand province, Afghanistan, Crenshaw was hit with an IED blast. He was evacuated and put into a medically induced coma. When he awoke, he learned that his right eye was completely destroyed and that his left eye was still intact but severely damaged. Crenshaw was told that he would never see again. Despite the dim forecast given to him, he persevered through several difficult surgical procedures that restored vision to his left eye, albeit with the assistance of a corrective lens.
Defying all odds, Crenshaw returned to the SEALS, and deployed twice more after extensive retraining (once to the Middle East in 2014 and to South Korea in 2016). He was medically retired in 2016 and proceeded to attend the University of Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.
Upon graduating with his master’s degree, Crenshaw returned to Houston, where he ran for office. Crenshaw’s 2018 campaign saw him outperform Democratic challenger Todd Litton by a margin of 52.8%-45.6%. He came into the national spotlight following a mixture of variables, including an endorsement from Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR), a tightly watched, competitive primary election, as well as a surprise appearance on “Saturday Night Live” following controversial comments made by cast member Pete Davidson.
In 2020, he won by a larger margin against Democratic challenger Sima Ladjevardian; the final tally stood at 55.6%-42.8%.
During his tenure in office, Crenshaw has focused on issues such as energy, health care and technology. Furthermore, Crenshaw has branded himself as a moderate Republican. A 2021 Politico article states, “He voted with Donald Trump most of the time but isn’t a loyalist. He’s a stalwart conservative willing to criticize other conservatives” (Beavers). He serves on the Committee of Energy and Commerce.
Crenshaw is seeking a third term in office. Currently, he has three challengers for the primary election, which is set to take place March 1. His current challengers are: Jameson Ellis, Martin Etwop and Milam Langella. If Crenshaw wins the Republican primary, he will eventually face Democrat Robin Fulford, who is the only candidate running on the Democratic ticket for District 2.
In a conversation with The Tribune, Crenshaw was asked what some of his key accomplishments in office were.
He responded, “My top priority is advocating for the policies that will benefit the people of my district. I passed more bills through the House than any freshman Republican during my first term, including legislation signed into law under President Trump to boost energy innovation while protecting Texas energy jobs.”
During his freshman term in office, Crenshaw sponsored four bills that passed through both chambers: H. R. 5804 (DHS Blue Campaign Act), H. R. 4753 (Drone Origin Security Act), H. R. 3413 (DHS Acquisition Form Act of 2019) and H. R. 2609 (DHS Acquisition Review Board Act of 2019). He co-sponsored another 67 bills that passed through a minimum of the House of Representatives across both his terms.
He added, “I also worked closely with the Trump Administration to secure critical funding to complete flood mitigation projects throughout our community. This session, I have authored 18 pieces of legislation including the only bill in the House of Representatives that would prohibit any federal funding of state or federal red flag laws.”
Furthermore, Crenshaw was asked what else he would like to accomplish, assuming his reelection.
He responded, “Currently, I am working hard to stop the [damaging policies] of Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi. I have been one of the most outspoken critics against Joe Biden’s attacks on the American energy industry, his open border policies, and the [Build Back Better agenda]. I have introduced legislation to overturn Biden's ban on oil and gas leases on federal lands and waters, and was the first member of Congress to visit the southern border to see Joe Biden's border crisis firsthand. I also have introduced legislation to stop Joe Biden’s unconstitutional vaccine mandate, which should be a top priority for Republicans when we take back the majority along with reining in out-of-control government spending that is causing record-high inflation. These will continue to be my priorities [if] Republicans regain control of the House of Representatives in November.”
Lastly, Crenshaw was asked why voters should reelect him in the upcoming election.
He responded, “I’ve committed my life to the service of others, first as a Navy SEAL and now as the Congressman for the 2nd District. In Congress, I’ve tried to set an example of how to be a serious legislator. I pride myself on being one of the most effective Republicans in Congress, passing legislation into law under President Trump to protect Texas energy jobs and introducing legislation this Congress to combat illegal immigration and stop President Biden’s border crisis. I’ve also worked to protect Constitutional rights of Texans, introducing legislation to stop federal funding of red flag laws and prevent ATF overreach on law abiding gun owners. I know how much flooding impacts people in my district, which is why I worked to bring hundreds of millions of dollars in funding to our community for flood mitigation and relief. I [also] successfully earned a seat on the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee, where I sit on the influential Health and Environment Subcommittees. When we take back the majority in November, I will use my position on the Energy and Commerce Committee to fight for the people of this district, crafting policies that will protect Texas oil and gas jobs from the damaging policies of the Biden Administration. I work hard, speak my mind, and take my job representing Texans in Congress seriously. If I am reelected, I will continue to deliver and fight for Texans just as I have since the day I took office.”
To register to vote in the upcoming election, visit harrisvotes.com/VoterRegistration/Registration.
