The 2026 midterm elections are already producing a major shake-up in Washington, and some of the biggest surprises are coming before voters even reach the November general election.
So far, 10 incumbent members of the U.S. House have lost their primary elections, ending their bids for another term. Three are Republicans and seven are Democrats.
The casualties include lawmakers who have spent decades in Congress, prominent members of both parties and even candidates who received support from President Donald Trump.
For Americans watching the battle for control of Congress, the results reveal something important: voters in both parties appear increasingly willing to replace established Washington figures.
Here are the 10 House incumbents defeated in the 2026 primaries and what happened in each race.
1. Dan Crenshaw Loses Texas Republican Primary
Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, lost the Republican primary for Texas’ 2nd Congressional District to state Rep. Steve Toth.
Crenshaw had represented Texas in Congress since 2019 and became one of the more recognizable Republicans in the House.
One factor immediately attracted attention: Crenshaw was the only Republican House incumbent seeking reelection in Texas who did not receive Trump’s endorsement.
Trump did not endorse either candidate before the primary. After Toth won, however, the president endorsed the Republican nominee.
Crenshaw’s defeat demonstrates how quickly the political landscape can change, even for nationally known members of Congress.
2. Thomas Massie Falls to Trump-Backed Challenger
Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., lost the Republican primary in Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District to Ed Gallrein, a former Navy SEAL backed by Trump.
Massie has served in Congress since 2012 and built a national following as one of the House’s most independent-minded conservatives.
He has also repeatedly clashed with Trump and Republican leaders over major legislation and federal spending.
The primary became an extraordinarily expensive political battle, with reports describing it as the most expensive U.S. House primary in history.
In the end, Republican voters chose Gallrein, bringing Massie’s nearly 14-year run in Congress closer to an end.
3. Andy Ogles Loses Despite Trump Endorsement
Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., suffered a different kind of political upset.
Ogles entered Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District Republican primary with Trump’s endorsement but lost to former Tennessee Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher.
Ogles has served in Congress since 2023.
Following Hatcher’s victory, Trump quickly endorsed the primary winner.
The president explained on Truth Social that he had remained loyal to Ogles despite believing Hatcher was a strong “Trump” candidate.
Trump then urged Hatcher to “Run tough and hard” and gave him his “Complete and Total Endorsement” for the next stage of the campaign.
The result is a reminder that even a presidential endorsement cannot guarantee victory when Republican voters head to the polls.
4. Shri Thanedar Defeated by Democratic Socialist
Rep. Shri Thanedar, D-Mich., lost the Democratic primary in Michigan’s 13th Congressional District to state Rep. Donavan McKinney, a democratic socialist.
Thanedar has served in Congress since 2023.
His relationship with the Democratic Socialists of America had previously attracted attention.
In 2023, Thanedar announced that he was renouncing his DSA membership. A Detroit DSA official subsequently said the organization had already voted overwhelmingly to expel him.
Now Michigan Democrats have selected McKinney to replace Thanedar as their nominee.
The result is part of a broader development worth watching inside the Democratic Party: several challengers associated with its progressive or democratic socialist wing have defeated established incumbents during the 2026 primary season.
5. Dan Goldman Ousted in New York
Rep. Dan Goldman, D-N.Y., lost the Democratic primary for New York’s 10th Congressional District to former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander.
Goldman entered Congress in 2023.
Lander received an important endorsement from New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist who has become an influential figure among the party’s progressive voters.
Mamdani argued that Lander would provide “principled leadership” in Washington and make Congress work for ordinary Americans.
Goldman’s defeat means his congressional tenure could end after only a few years.
It also provides another example of progressive candidates and their allies successfully challenging incumbent Democrats in 2026.
6. Adriano Espaillat Loses Democratic Primary
Rep. Adriano Espaillat, D-N.Y., also went down to defeat.
Espaillat lost the Democratic primary for New York’s 13th Congressional District to democratic socialist Darializa Avila Chevalier, another candidate endorsed by Mamdani.
Espaillat has represented the district in Congress since 2017 and serves as chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.
His defeat is particularly notable because congressional seniority and leadership positions have traditionally provided incumbents with considerable advantages.
In 2026, that protection has not been enough for several Democrats facing energetic primary challengers.
7. Diana DeGette’s Nearly 30-Year House Career Nears Its End
One of the most striking defeats came in Colorado.
Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colo., lost the Democratic primary for Colorado’s 1st Congressional District to democratic socialist Melat Kiros.
DeGette first entered Congress in 1997.
That means she has spent nearly three decades in the House, making her one of the most experienced lawmakers to lose a primary this election cycle.
Her defeat reinforces a growing challenge for veteran Democrats: longevity in Washington may no longer be the advantage it once was with primary voters looking for new leadership.
8. Al Green Defeated in Texas
Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, lost the Democratic runoff for Texas’ 18th Congressional District to fellow Rep. Christian Menefee.
Green has served in Congress since 2005.
The Texas contest unfolded against the backdrop of redistricting, which significantly altered the political landscape for several lawmakers.
For Green, the result means a congressional career spanning more than two decades is approaching its conclusion.
His loss also adds to the remarkable number of veteran Democratic lawmakers defeated during the 2026 election season.
9. Julie Johnson Loses to Colin Allred
Rep. Julie Johnson, D-Texas, lost the Democratic runoff for Texas’ 33rd Congressional District to former congressman Colin Allred.
Johnson’s situation differs sharply from lawmakers such as Green, DeGette and Larson.
She only entered Congress last year.
Allred, meanwhile, was already familiar to Texas voters after previously serving in the House.
The race demonstrates another reality of congressional politics: incumbency can provide an advantage, but it offers no guarantee of surviving a competitive primary — especially when district boundaries and political circumstances change.
10. John Larson Ousted After More Than 25 Years
Rep. John Larson, D-Conn., became another longtime Democrat defeated by his own party’s voters.
Larson lost the Democratic primary for Connecticut’s 1st Congressional District to former Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin.
Larson has served in the House since 1999, giving him more than a quarter-century of experience on Capitol Hill.
Bronin campaigned in part on bringing generational change to Washington, and voters ultimately sided with the challenger.
Larson’s loss makes him the seventh Democratic House incumbent defeated in a primary this year.
Democratic Incumbents Taking the Biggest Hit
The numbers reveal a striking imbalance.
Of the 10 House incumbents defeated so far, seven are Democrats and three are Republicans.
Several of the Democratic defeats also involve veteran lawmakers losing to younger or more progressive challengers, suggesting Democratic primary voters in some districts are demanding a different generation and style of leadership.
The Republican results tell a somewhat different story.
Crenshaw lost without Trump’s endorsement. Massie was defeated by a Trump-backed challenger. Ogles, however, lost despite having Trump’s support going into his race.
That suggests Trump’s influence remains important in Republican politics, but an endorsement alone does not make a candidate unbeatable.
Redistricting Adds Another Wild Card
Redistricting has further complicated the 2026 congressional elections.
Changes to congressional boundaries in states including Texas and Tennessee have forced politicians to campaign under dramatically different circumstances.
New district lines can change the makeup of the electorate, place incumbents against other established politicians and erase advantages lawmakers spent years building.
That has made an already volatile midterm cycle even more unpredictable.
What the Primary Upsets Could Mean for Congress
The most important story may be bigger than these 10 individual races.
Primary voters in both parties are demonstrating that years of experience in Washington no longer guarantee political security.
For Republicans, loyalty to Trump’s agenda remains a major consideration, although the Ogles result demonstrates that local voters can still buck a presidential endorsement.
For Democrats, the trend appears particularly significant. Multiple established lawmakers have been replaced by challengers promising generational change or a more progressive approach to government.
That could gradually push the Democratic House caucus further to the left as veteran members depart and a new group of lawmakers takes their place.
Whether that helps or hurts Democrats nationally will become clearer when voters make their choices in November.
The Battle for the House Is Just Getting Started
Ten incumbents losing their primaries is already a significant political development, but the 2026 midterm election is far from finished.
Republicans and Democrats are fighting for control of the House, and every competitive congressional district could matter.
For conservative voters, several questions now loom large: Can Republicans capitalize on Democratic divisions? How much influence will Trump have over the candidates who ultimately reach Washington? And will the Democratic Party’s progressive wing gain even more power after November?
Those answers could determine not only which party controls the House, but also the direction of Congress during the final two years of Trump’s current term.
One thing is already clear: 2026 is proving that even some of Washington’s most established politicians are no longer safe when voters decide it is time for a change.