March 27, 2014 5:25 PM

Race to succeed Sen. Williams kicks into high gear

Special election in Southeast Texas comes into focus following the primaries

The four-way special election to replace retired Sen. Tommy Williams, R-The Woodlands, has returned to top-of-mind status for some Capitol observers now that the primaries are in the rearview mirror for most candidates. The four men vying to succeed the former Senate Finance Committee Chairman are doing all they can now to differentiate themselves in the district that’s anchored in The Woodlands but stretches as far east as Beaumont and Port Arthur.

The election has been called for May 10, which confuses even some political insiders who didn’t realize this race wasn’t on the ballot on March 4. Given that the race has been off the radar for many, it is difficult to know what turnout will be like and which candidate may benefit.

The four Republicans in the race are Rep. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, Rep. Steve Toth, R-The Woodlands, Gordy Bunch, a businessman from Montgomery County, and former Sen. Mike Galloway, who hails from Tomball.

Creighton leads in the money race by far with over $1 million in the bank. Bunch is second with $274,000 on hand and Toth has $123,000. Galloway reported less than $1000 on hand at last check.

Just this week, Rep. Creighton told Quorum Report exclusively that he’s decided to endorse Sen. Dan Patrick in his bid for Lite Guv. "Dan worked very closely with me to block Medicaid expansion under Obamacare,” Creighton said. Patrick “was an early supporter and co-sponsor of the Texas' sovereignty resolution in the Texas Senate,” Creighton said, hoping to garner the kind of Tea Party support enjoyed by the Senator from Houston. That’s even as his opponents refer to Creighton as “the establishment” candidate. Creighton’s website says he is rated the number one Representative in the race by Texas Right to Life and he has the backing of Texans for Lawsuit Reform.

Toth has worked to claim the Tea Party mantle. “I’m out-walking ‘em and out-working ‘em,” he told QR on Thursday afternoon. He said it doesn’t discourage him at all to see Creighton with much more campaign cash than the rest of the field. “It used to really matter until the Tea Party came along,” Toth said. He may be on to something.

By Scott Braddock