Dan Crenshaw

Dan Crenshaw
Born	Daniel Reed Crenshaw 14 3, 1984
Birthplace	Aberdeen, Scotland
Nationality	American
Occupation	Template:Hlist
Title	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas's 2nd congressional district
Known for	U.S. Representative for Texas's 2nd congressional district
Education	Tufts University (BA) Harvard University (MPA)
Children	1
Awards	Bronze Star Medal (×2) Purple Heart Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Valor
Website	[[crenshaw.house.gov crenshaw.house.gov] Official site]

Daniel Reed Crenshaw (born March 14, 1984) is an American politician and former United States Navy SEAL officer who has served as the U.S. representative for Texas's 2nd congressional district since 2019. A member of the Republican Party, Crenshaw represents a Houston-area district that was previously held by Ted Poe. Before entering politics, Crenshaw served ten years as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Navy, deploying five times overseas as a member of SEAL Team 3 during the War in Afghanistan and the Iraq War. During his third deployment to Afghanistan, he was severely wounded by an improvised explosive device (IED), losing his right eye and sustaining damage to his left eye. He continued to serve on active duty after recovering from his injuries, completing two additional deployments before retiring at the rank of lieutenant commander. Crenshaw gained national prominence in November 2018 when Saturday Night Live cast member Pete Davidson made a joke about his appearance and eye patch, leading to an exchange that attracted widespread media attention. He has positioned himself as a voice within the Republican conference on national security and veterans' issues, while also drawing scrutiny and primary challenges from the right wing of his party over his positions on foreign policy and other matters.

Early Life

Daniel Reed Crenshaw was born on March 14, 1984, in Aberdeen, Scotland, where his father was working in the oil and gas industry. Because of his father's career in the energy sector, Crenshaw spent portions of his childhood living abroad, including time in Ecuador and Colombia. This upbringing exposed Crenshaw to different cultures and environments during his formative years. He grew up primarily in the Houston, Texas, area, which he would later represent in Congress.

Crenshaw has spoken publicly about the loss of his mother to cancer when he was ten years old, an experience he has described as formative in shaping his outlook on life and service. Growing up in the Houston area, he developed an early interest in military service and public affairs that would shape his subsequent career decisions.

Education

Crenshaw attended Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts, where he studied international relations. While at Tufts, he was already preparing for a career in the military. A 2006 profile in The Tufts Daily described Crenshaw's impending transition from college student to Navy SEAL candidate, noting his commitment to pursuing one of the most demanding military specializations in the U.S. armed forces. He graduated from Tufts in 2006.

After his military career, Crenshaw pursued graduate education at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government, where he earned a Master of Public Administration degree. His time at Harvard's Kennedy School provided him with a policy-oriented academic foundation that complemented his operational military experience.

Career

Military service

Upon graduating from Tufts University in 2006, Crenshaw entered the United States Navy and pursued the demanding training pipeline to become a Navy SEAL. He was assigned to SEAL Team 3 and served as a commissioned officer, ultimately deploying five times to various conflict zones during the War in Afghanistan and the Iraq War.

During his third deployment to Helmand Province, Afghanistan, Crenshaw was severely wounded when an IED detonated near him. The blast destroyed his right eye and caused significant damage to his left eye, leaving him uncertain for a time whether he would regain any vision. After extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation, Crenshaw recovered partial vision in his left eye. He wears a glass eye and, in public, often an eye patch over his right eye socket.

Despite the severity of his injuries, Crenshaw continued to serve on active duty. He completed two additional overseas deployments after his recovery, for a total of five combat deployments. Over the course of his military career, he received multiple decorations, including two Bronze Star Medals (one with Valor), the Purple Heart, and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Valor. He retired from the Navy in 2016 at the rank of lieutenant commander.

Legislative staff work

After retiring from the military and completing his Master of Public Administration at Harvard, Crenshaw worked as a legislative assistant to U.S. Representative Pete Sessions of Texas. This position provided Crenshaw with direct experience in the legislative process and congressional operations, serving as a bridge between his military career and his own candidacy for elected office.

2018 congressional campaign

In 2017, Crenshaw announced his candidacy for Texas's 2nd congressional district after incumbent Representative Ted Poe announced he would not seek re-election. The district, based in the Houston area, was considered a safe Republican seat. The race attracted a crowded Republican primary field.

Crenshaw ran on a platform emphasizing his military service, national security credentials, and conservative policy positions. In the March 2018 Republican primary, Crenshaw advanced to a runoff election against Kevin Roberts. He was described as building a "commanding lead" in early fundraising and polling for the race. Media coverage of the primary noted the competitive nature of the contest to replace Poe, with multiple candidates vying for the nomination.

In the May 2018 runoff, Crenshaw defeated Roberts to secure the Republican nomination. He also won endorsements from several Republican figures during the primary process.

In the November 2018 general election, Crenshaw won the seat, defeating his Democratic opponent in the reliably Republican district. A Houston Chronicle analysis of the election results noted that Crenshaw's voter coalition offered potential lessons for the Republican Party in suburban districts.

Saturday Night Live incident

Just days before the 2018 general election, Saturday Night Live cast member Pete Davidson made a joke during the show's "Weekend Update" segment about Crenshaw's appearance, specifically referencing his eye patch and comparing him to "a hitman in a porno movie." The comment drew immediate backlash from across the political spectrum, with critics calling the joke disrespectful to a combat-wounded veteran.

Crenshaw's response to the incident drew considerable media attention. He initially dismissed the joke in measured terms, stating that he did not require an apology but hoped Davidson would recognize the sacrifices of veterans. The following week, Crenshaw appeared on Saturday Night Live alongside Davidson in a segment where Davidson apologized and Crenshaw accepted, with both men urging Americans to treat one another with greater respect. Crenshaw also used the appearance to urge viewers to remember the meaning of Veterans Day.

The exchange elevated Crenshaw's national profile. The Washington Post described how he "started the week as an SNL joke and ended it as a GOP star," noting that the real story of his life and service predated the television incident. Crenshaw suggested that the attention could help if it encouraged people to engage in more civil discourse, while also noting it would be helpful if then-President Donald Trump encouraged the same.

Congressional tenure

Crenshaw took office on January 3, 2019, succeeding Ted Poe as the representative for Texas's 2nd congressional district. Since entering Congress, he has focused on national security, energy policy, veterans' affairs, and border security issues.

In December 2025, Crenshaw introduced legislation aimed at providing regulatory certainty for advanced recycling technologies, co-sponsored with Representative Gary Palmer of Alabama. The bill was framed as a "common sense" measure to support innovation in recycling and waste management.

Crenshaw has been outspoken on issues related to Mexican drug cartels and border security. In February 2026, following the killing of CJNG cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera (known as "El Mencho") in a U.S.-backed Mexican military operation, Crenshaw praised the Mexican officials involved and described the cartel as a "terrorist insurgency." He called on Congress to increase support for joint efforts to combat cartels, comparing their activities to those of ISIS.

2026 Republican primary challenge

Heading into the 2026 election cycle, Crenshaw faced a Republican primary challenge from Steve Toth, a member of the Texas House of Representatives. The challenge reflected broader intraparty tensions within the Republican Party. According to The Texas Tribune, Crenshaw drew criticism from right-wing media outlets and figures who questioned his positions on foreign policy and other issues.

NBC News reported that Crenshaw was notably fighting the primary without the backing of former President Donald Trump, describing him as "a lone House Republican" facing this challenge without such support. The report noted friction between Crenshaw and elements of the party's right flank over issues including foreign policy. The Cook Political Report included the race in a preview of the March 2026 Texas primary, describing the broader dynamic as "Republicans go RINO hunting" within the Texas congressional delegation.

In November 2025, a report surfaced regarding Crenshaw's behavior during a congressional delegation trip to Mexico. House Speaker Mike Johnson publicly defended Crenshaw in the wake of the report.

As of February 2026, Crenshaw was actively campaigning ahead of the March primary, including appearances on local Houston television.

Personal Life

Crenshaw was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, but grew up primarily in the Houston, Texas, area. He has one child.

Crenshaw lost his right eye to an IED blast during his third deployment to Afghanistan. After extensive surgery and rehabilitation, he regained partial vision in his left eye. He wears a glass eye in his right eye socket and is frequently seen wearing an eye patch in public appearances.

Recognition

Crenshaw's military service earned him multiple commendations, including two Bronze Star Medals (one with Valor), the Purple Heart for wounds sustained in combat, and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Valor.

His national profile rose significantly in November 2018 as a result of the Saturday Night Live incident involving Pete Davidson. The Washington Post published a lengthy profile examining Crenshaw's life story and military service in the context of the media attention he received, noting that his biography was far more substantive than the brief television moment that brought him to national attention. The incident and his measured response led to numerous media appearances and established Crenshaw as one of the more recognizable incoming members of the 116th Congress.

The Houston Chronicle described Crenshaw as a potential model for Republican candidates in suburban districts, citing his appeal to voters in the Houston area during the 2018 election cycle. The Washington Examiner characterized him as "a true public servant" during the 2018 primary campaign, referencing his military record and policy positions.