OUR fights
From long-shot challengers to entrenched incumbents under fire, CAZ Consulting has delivered victories that shape Texas politics.
Steve Toth vs. Dan Crenshaw
TX-2 (2026 Primary)
The Challenge: Dan Crenshaw was a nationally recognized incumbent with a massive fundraising machine and the full backing of the D.C. establishment. Steve Toth was a state legislator entering a congressional race as a heavy underdog with eight months on the clock.
Our Approach: CAZ built the campaign strategy from the ground up — developing a sharp contrast message, executing an aggressive earned media operation, and applying relentless pressure on Crenshaw's record at every turn. We kept Crenshaw on defense while elevating Toth as the credible, conservative alternative voters were looking for.
The Result: Steve Toth defeated a sitting U.S. Congressman in the Republican Primary. No runoff. A decisive win — and proof that with the right strategy, no incumbent is untouchable.
Ritch Wheeler vs. James Noack
Montgomery County Commissioner
The Challenge: James Noack was a 12-year incumbent County Commissioner with deep establishment ties and a war chest that dwarfed ours. Wheeler was a challenger with grassroots support but no infrastructure — and Noack outspent us 5-to-1.
Our Approach: CAZ focused the race on a sharp policy contrast, giving voters a clear choice rather than a personality contest. We maximized every dollar through disciplined messaging, aggressive grassroots mobilization, and a strategy built to compete against a well-funded machine.
The Result: Ritch Wheeler won — narrowly, but decisively enough. A 12-year incumbent with every structural advantage lost to a challenger who simply ran a smarter race.
DON McLAUGHLIN
South Texas State Representative
The Challenge: This South Texas border district had never elected a Republican. Running in historically Democrat territory, McLaughlin faced an electorate that had never sent a member of his party to Austin — making this one of the highest-risk, highest-reward races on the board.
Our Approach: CAZ built the campaign around McLaughlin's strength as a candidate — a well-known and trusted Mayor in the community — and paired that with a pointed border and immigration contrast that resonated deeply with voters living on the front lines of the crisis. A disciplined grassroots ground game turned out voters that traditional Republican models would have left behind.
The Result: McLaughlin won by 19 points in the general election, flipping a seat that had never been held by a Republican. A historic win that proved South Texas is in play — when you run the right candidate and the right campaign.
Texas State Board of Education
Statewide
The Challenge: The Texas State Board of Education sets the curriculum standards for millions of Texas children — making it one of the most consequential elected bodies in the state. These districts are more than twice the size of congressional seats, yet historically receive minimal funding and attention. Conservatives needed to win and hold seats across vastly different districts, including replacing weak Republicans, winning open seats, and cracking territory that had never elected a Republican.
Our Approach: CAZ built a long-term coalition strategy across multiple cycles, tailoring each race to its district while keeping a unified message centered on parental rights, school choice, and removing CRT from Texas classrooms. We didn't just win individual races — we built a coordinated effort to reshape the board seat by seat.
The Result: CAZ helped elect a conservative majority to the Texas State Board of Education — including flipping a South Texas seat that had never been held by a Republican — securing a conservative majority that is now setting the direction for public education in Texas.