EXCLUSIVE: Dan Crenshaw's GOP challenger says ‘days in Congress are numbered’ as race heats up

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FIRST ON FOX: A Texas state representative is claiming that Rep. Dan Crenshaw's "days in Congress are numbered" after his campaign to unseat one of the Republican Party’s most recognizable members has had early success, raising $300,000.

In a statement to Fox News Digital,  Republican Steve Toth, who represents a district just north of Houston in the Texas House of Representatives, said "with the number of donors growing every hour, our campaign is positioned to unseat Dan Crenshaw and give constituents the representation they deserve."

A spokesperson for Crenshaw shot back that Toth’s criticisms against him are a "pathetic disservice to voters" and that the congressman has been "fighting" for Texans since his first election in 2018.

Toth launched his campaign to unseat Crenshaw in Texas' 2nd Congressional District July 15. In announcing his candidacy, Toth said Crenshaw has failed to deliver for the conservative movement and that he would bring back "bold, unapologetic conservative leadership."

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Texas state Rep. Steve Toth, right, is running to unseat Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, left. (Carolyn Kaster/AP Photo; courtesy of Steve Toth for Congress)

Toth told Fox News Crenshaw "ran as a conservative but has done nothing except act like the newest version of Liz Cheney in Congress."

Crenshaw, a veteran of SEAL Team 3, entered the political scene with a splash. He was mocked on an episode of SNL for looking like a "hitman in a porno movie" because of an injury he sustained while deployed to Afghanistan that cost him his right eye.

Since then, Crenshaw has emerged as a prominent Republican lawmaker and outspoken conservative voice but has also taken criticism from some on the right, such as Toth, who have accused him of being too establishment. 

Toth told Fox News Digital that, "in meeting with community members from across the district, we have seen a common theme — Congressional District 2 wants a representative who will fight for their values."

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Toth is running against Crenshaw in Texas's 2nd Congressional District, just north of Houston. (iStock)

"The initial outpouring of support from donors and members of the grassroots across the district has been so encouraging," said Toth. "Every day, I receive messages of support and donations as we fight to restore bold, conservative leadership to Congress."

Toth’s campaign said he raised over $300,000 for his congressional campaign despite spending over half of the campaign thus far in a special legislative session in Texas that included passing additional flood relief for the victims of the Central Texas flood and Texas’ high-profile redistricting bill.

The campaign said, "Toth’s early fundraising success sends a clear message — Dan Crenshaw’s days in Congress are numbered."

In response, a spokesperson for Crenshaw’s campaign said Toth "can only run a negative campaign because he has nothing to stand on in his legislative career."

"It's a pathetic disservice to voters that Steve Toth, with his nonexistent list of accomplishments, can't point to anything Representative Crenshaw has or hasn't done but relies on tired and dishonest lies and smears," said the spokesperson.

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Rep. Dan Crenshaw listens to testimony during a House Select Committee on Climate Crisis hearing June 14, 2022, in Washington, D.C. (Nathan Howard/Getty Images)

"Rep. Crenshaw has been fighting — and winning — to secure the border, fight against radical transgender ideology and deliver crucial flood mitigation to Texas' 2nd Congressional District since he's been in office," the spokesperson added.

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Though President Donald Trump has previously endorsed Toth for the Texas House twice, in 2022 and 2024, he has not yet weighed in on this race.

Texas' 2nd Congressional District is a solid red district, meaning the winner of the primary in March will likely easily win the general election in November.

The race is one of several upcoming primary battles involving prominent Texas Republicans, including the race for attorney general between Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, former Trump Department of Justice official Aaron Reitz and state senators Mayes Middleton and Joan Huffman. 

At the top of the ticket is another bitter race involving current Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Rep. Wesley Hunt, R-Texas, who are running to unseat longtime Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, one of the most prominent Republicans in the Senate.