Toth Challenges Crenshaw for Congressional Seat

By Joseph Trimmer | Texas Scorecard | July 16, 2025

Republican State Rep. Steve Toth has launched a primary challenge against U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw for Texas’ 2nd Congressional District, though the district may change before the March 2026 election.

Toth (R–The Woodlands) is a five-term lawmaker who currently represents a Montgomery County House district. He has historically aligned with the most conservative faction of the Texas House.

Toth has accused Crenshaw of enriching himself while betraying conservative GOP values.

“The enemy of your soul is the same enemy of a nation that is blessed by God,” Toth told supporters at his campaign launch event.

While Dan Crenshaw votes with Democrats and threatens conservatives, he’s also somehow gotten rich off his government salary. I had no idea he’s actually a better trader than Warren Buffett. But not quite as good as Hillary Clinton.

Crenshaw told Texas Scorecard that “he’s starting his campaign slandering me with lies instead of actually talking about what he wants to accomplish for the district. I’d say that is pretty consistent with Toth’s reputation as one of the least effective members of the State House.”

However, Toth is not the only candidate challenging Crenshaw in the 2026 primary election—businessman Jon Bonck announced he has raised $448,000 for his candidacy against the congressman.

Crenshaw has faced primary challengers in previous cycles since his election to Congress in 2018. In 2024, he defeated Jameson Ellis by less than 20 percentage points.

While Toth’s congressional bid does not require him to immediately vacate his Texas House District 15 seat, he will return to Austin next week for a special session of the Texas Legislature that could change congressional districts across Houston.

Gov. Greg Abbott placed mid-decade redistricting on the call for the special legislative session. Lawmakers are expected to address congressional districts flagged by the U.S. Department of Justice as “unconstitutional racial gerrymanders.”

The call for redistricting follows a 2024 federal court ruling in Petteway v. Galveston County which determined that the Voting Rights Act does not protect majority-minority coalition districts.

Districts reportedly under review for changes include current congressional districts 9 (Rep. Al Green, D–Houston), 18 (currently vacant), 29 (Rep. Sylvia Garcia, D–Houston), and 33 (Rep. Marc Veasey, D–Fort Worth).

As those districts shift to break up majority-minority coalition districts, it is possible that surrounding districts, including 2, could radically shift before the next election.

Joseph Trimmer

Joseph is a journalist for Texas Scorecard reporting from Houston. With a background in business, Joseph is passionate about covering issues impacting citizens.