‘Workhorse, not a show horse’: Texas Democrat vies for Dan Crenshaw seat

This Democrat is trying to knock out years-long GOP Congressman Dan Crenshaw in a deep-red Republican district.

Business executive Shaun Finnie, a Woodlands resident, announced his candidacy in July, saying his decision to run was driven largely by concern over the nation’s growing federal debt.

Finnie reiterated this focus in a newly released campaign video on Friday, “Today, too many politicians in Washington are focused on theatrics.”

“DC has become a circus; you deserve better,” Finnie added. “Talk in Washington is cheap, but the cost of living is not.”

The Woodlands Democrat went on to list the prices of groceries, healthcare and housing as too high, while pointing to his upbringing as the son of a mother who worked two jobs to support the family.

“I’ve done well. But, I’ve never forgotten the challenges that working Texans face,” Finnie said. “In Congress, I’ll work to lower the cost of living, make healthcare more affordable and fight to protect social security and Medicare.”

“I intend to be a workhorse, not a show horse,” Finnie emphasized.

A few seconds of what appeared to be Crenshaw in a verbal altercation in D.C. were featured in Finnie’s video. The Republican incumbent seemed to be wagging his finger at another person off-camera.

This short clip was the only reference to Crenshaw within the roughly minute-long ad.

Since launching his campaign, Finnie has commented on several of Crenshaw’s moves through a series of press releases.

In early December, Finnie spoke out against remarks Crenshaw made in support of strikes the U.S. Military conducted on a Venezuelan boat suspected of smuggling drugs.

He also criticized Crenshaw’s behavior after reports he was banned from travel on behalf of the House Select Committee after a so-called “alcohol-related incident” occurred on a trip to Mexico.

“This is nothing short of embarrassing. This is a very bad look for the 2nd District of Texas. Dan Crenshaw represents our district, and he represents us,” Finnie said. “We have entrusted Congressman Crenshaw to always act in our best interest, and now even the leadership of his own party believes he cannot effectively carry out the duties of his office.”

Crenshaw denied that he was under a ban, calling reports of the incident “clickbait.”

Finnie became the Democratic nominee for Texas’ 2nd Congressional District after no other Democrat filed before the early December deadline.

Crenshaw will face off against state Rep. Steve Toth (R-Conroe) in a heated primary.

Toth is a longtime loyalist to Trump and a former member of the Texas House Freedom Caucus, staunchly pushing hard-right culture-war issues. He largely supports cracking down on the U.S. “open border invasion created by Democrats,” is anti-“hate-filled DEI” on Texas college campuses and stands with Israel.

Crenshaw, who has served in Congress since 2019, has opened himself up to criticism from hard-line party loyalists who claim he is not conservative enough. Members of the GOP largely rebuked the congressman for his unwillingness to back Trump’s claims that widespread voter fraud led to his 2020 reelection defeat. He also collects critiques for his comments about “grifters” within the conservative base.

“Over these next few months, while Congressman Crenshaw and Representative Toth peddle an extremist agenda, I will be talking with Texans about the issues that matter most to them,” Finnie said, referring to the Republican primary. “My commitment to them is simple: put politics aside and make government work for them through a common sense approach.”

Article originally posted on Chron.com.

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