The state Senate District 4 race is heading to a runoff between District 16 state representative Brandon Creighton and District 15 state representative Steve Toth.

Creighton received 45 percent of the vote, 5 percent short of what a candidate needs to win a race, during the May 10 election, according to official election results. He will face Toth in an Aug. 5 runoff for the seat after Toth finished second with 7,196 votes, or about 24 percent of the vote. Only the top two vote-getters move on the runoff.

Current Woodlands Township director Gordy Bunch narrowly missed the runoff after garnering 6,618 votes, or about 22 percent of the vote, while Michael Galloway finished a distant third with 2,818 votes, or about 9 percent.

Creighton has a background in business and law, and is serving his third consecutive term in the Texas House of Representatives.

"We were very encouraged by leading in each of the five counties throughout Senate District 4, and we plan to continue to reach new voters and articulate a strong message for Texas success for the future," Creighton said. "I am asking for the support and confidence from the constituents of Senate District 4 to send an effective conservative to the Legislature to make sure we are properly represented for the future."

Toth owns and operates two swimming pool companies and is also serving in the Texas House of Representatives.

"Texas is sending a clear message that they are not looking for status-quo conservatives, they want activists," Toth said. "[Texans want] people who will quit talking about conservative issues and start producing. That is the record that I have had in the House as a fighter as a producer, and as someone who will fight for conservative values and [help build a] conservative legislature."