Toth Announces Bid to Succeed Williams in Senate

State Rep. Steve Toth, R-The Woodlands, said on Monday he will run to replace state Sen. Tommy Williams, R-The Woodlands, who announced his resignation earlier this month.

In a press release announcing his candidacy, Toth, a Tea Party conservative, emphasized the need for “conservative advocates” like U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz who will “go against the tide and stand for what is right no matter the consequences."

“As Ted Cruz has courageously demonstrated, simply being a conservative vote is no longer enough,” Toth said.

Toth was first elected to the House in 2012. In the Senate race, Toth will face state Rep. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, who last week ended his bid for agriculture commissioner to instead seek Williams' seat.

“In Washington and Austin, there is so much pressure to go along with what is politically expedient or personally convenient but Texas simply can’t afford to play it safe,” Toth said. “We need leaders whose word is their bond, who stand by their commitments, and provide form, decisive conservative leadership.”

Toth enters the race with several endorsements, including that of Cathie Adams, president of the conservative Texas Eagle Forum and former chairwoman of the Texas Republican Party.