Rep. Dan Crenshaw's fundraising powerhouse could be gateway to more power in Washington

Houston’s Dan Crenshaw has become one of the biggest fundraisers on Capitol Hill, deepening his influence in the halls of Congress and making him a formidable statewide candidate if he ever chose to run for higher office in Texas. Crenshaw has raised nearly $11 million for his re-election campaign since the start of 2021 — the 3rd highest total of the 435 members of the U.S. House. Only House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy have raised more, according to Federal Election Commission records. No other member of the U.S. House from Texas ranks within the top 40 fundraisers, and more is coming for Crenshaw.

He continues to blast fundraising appeals to his supporters, pledging to help elect more Republicans to Congress to take control from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats. “This is the most important midterm election of our lifetimes — and Dan Crenshaw will not let your contributions go to waste,” one recent letter says. Crenshaw, a 38-year-old retired Navy SEAL, has built a national fundraising platform starting shortly after he was elected in 2018, when he was lampooned on Saturday Night Live by comic Pete Davidson, who made fun of his eye patch. Crenshaw lost use of his right eye in a 2012 bomb blast in Afghanistan that nearly killed him. The resulting media coverage — and a Crenshaw appearance on SNL after Davidson apologized — helped build the then-freshman’s national profile. Nearly $1 million of his donations since 2021 have come from California, New York or Florida, according to FEC records. Thanks to partisan redistricting Crenshaw, who is seeking a third term in the House this year, doesn’t really need the money for his own re-election.