Former U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw of Texas said misinformation and low voter turnout played a major role in his defeat in the state’s Republican primary earlier this month, where voters selected state Rep. Steve Toth as the party’s nominee.

The March 3 primary resulted in a decisive victory for Toth, who secured more than 57 percent of the vote. Crenshaw, who had represented the Houston-area district for several terms, lost the race after facing criticism from some conservative voters over his record and past comments on issues including the 2020 presidential election.

Speaking Sunday in an interview with CBS News host Margaret Brennan, Crenshaw argued that online rumors and conspiracy theories influenced the outcome of the race. Brennan framed the discussion around what she described as a broader culture of misinformation.

“I’m a unique Republican,” Crenshaw said during the interview. “I’ve been the target of online smears and conspiracies for a very long time. My election was basically a product of that.”

Crenshaw suggested that turnout in the primary was limited and that many voters were influenced by claims circulating online. He said some voters believed accusations that he had profited heavily from insider trading, an allegation he denied.

“First of all, you have about 20 percent of Republican voters bothering to even vote at a primary,” Crenshaw said. “Then you have dozens of online smears and conspiracies that people were going into the voting booth, actually believing.”

The former congressman said he had not made stock trades in three years and estimated that his investment gains over seven years in office totaled less than $46,000.

Crenshaw previously told the Texas Tribune that what he described as online “clickbait” had a significant impact on the campaign, arguing that viral posts and memes shaped perceptions among some voters.

His defeat followed several years of tension between Crenshaw and elements of the Republican base. The congressman drew criticism from some conservatives over statements acknowledging Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 election and comments he made about the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.

The remarks during the CBS interview prompted responses from some conservative commentators and political figures. Alex Bruesewitz, an adviser to President Donald Trump, suggested on social media that Crenshaw appeared to be positioning himself for media work following the loss.

Others argued the primary result reflected political changes within the district. Ben Larrabee, a data analyst with Turning Point Action’s voter outreach effort, said the area became more conservative after redistricting increased its Republican voting index from roughly R+11 to about R+15.

According to Larrabee, that shift meant voters were more likely to support a candidate with a stronger conservative record, contributing to Toth’s victory in the primary.