We’ve been publishing candidate profiles in four contested races since February 3, replicating something we did nearly two years ago with races for Lubbock Mayor that were popular.
But for March 3 Texas Primary, we decided to do more.
We profiled candidates in four contested races:
- Congress (Texas District 19)
- County judge
- County commissioner, Precinct 2
- County commissioner, Precinct 4
Instead of campaign talking points, these stories were designed to give you a sense of who the candidates were as people. While we covered their ideas, the focus was more on a human perspective – their background, experiences and personal stories.
Extended coverage: Texas Primary ’26 ⬅️
We also sent out questions to more than three-dozen candidates running in a dozen contested races. We received 30 of those. In four of those races, County Court at Law #2, district attorney, Republican Justice of the Peace Precinct 2 and Democratic Justice of the Peace Precinct 3, only single candidates responded.
All of it can be found on our Texas Primary ’26 page … a one-stop shop for you before voting.
We started with profiles of Curtis Parrish and Wesley Houck.
- Parrish seeking third term as county judge, lists accomplishments but adds ‘We’ve got some more work to go’
– - Houck moved family back to Texas for way of life, now seeking office as county judge, saying leadership needed
We then moved to Precinct 4 county commissioner with Jordan Rackler, Chad Seay, and C.J. Peterson.
- Rackler proud about stand on taxes, Expo Center – wants to continue representing people in county’s Precinct 4
– - Seay wants his old seat back as Precinct 4 commissioner – wants to make sure public safety is supported
– - Former constable Peterson wants to return to county as Precinct 4 commissioner after navigating life’s ups and downs
We also profiled candidates for county commissioner in Precinct 2. They are Trey Newton, Kevin Pounds and Justin Martin.
- Political consultant Newton ‘never expected to run for office,’ but he seeks county’s Precinct 2 seat with focus on budgeting
– - Pounds now running for Precinct 2 commissioner to fund volunteer fire departments, fix roads, buildings
– - Martin supports budget cuts, wants county government to be ‘boring’ again as he runs for Precinct 2 commissioner
We then completed our profiles with congressional candidates Matt Smith, Tom Sell, James Bob Barbee, Abraham Enriquez, Donald May, Jason Corley and Ryan Zink.
- Roofer ‘Fat Matt’ Smith running for Congress with deep conviction – viewing everything through lens of Scripture
– - Sell hopes experience working with Combest in Congress (emphasizing work on Farm Bill) will sell him to voters
– - Barbee funding his own campaign – standing apart from other candidates on taxes, healthcare too
– - Enriquez says run for Congress proof American dream he wants to fight to protect is ‘alive in West Texas’
– - Doctor, farmer, veteran Donald May hopes voters send him, a self-described ‘common citizen,’ to serve in Congress
– - Corley says no one should be able to ‘buy a congressman’ as he pushes for lobbying reform, also inflation, in bid for office
– - Zink running on January 6 record – not away from it – ‘not willing to back down’ from what he called unfair process
Voter Guide
In addition to profile stories, we published a Voter Guide with a longer list of races.
- House of Representatives, Texas District 19 | Candidate Q&A: Seven Republicans hope to replace retiring Jodey Arrington in Congress
– - Lubbock County District Attorney | Candidate Q&A: Republican District Attorney
– - Lubbock County Judge | Candidate Q&A: Lubbock County Judge
– - County Court at Law #2 | Candidate Q&A: Lubbock County Court at Law #2
– - County Clerk | Candidate Q&A: Republican Lubbock County clerk
– - County Commissioner Precinct 2 | Candidate Q&A: Republican Commissioners Court, Precinct 2
– - County Commissioner Precinct 4 | Candidate Q&A: Republican Commissioners Court, Precinct 4
– - Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1 | Candidate Q&A: Republican Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1
– - Justice of the Peace, Precinct 2 | Candidate Q&A: Republican Justice of the Peace, Precinct 2
– - Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3 (GOP) | Candidate Q&A: Republican Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3
– - Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3 (Democratic) | Candidate Q&A: Democratic Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3
– - Democratic Party Chair (Lubbock County) | Candidate Q&A: Lubbock County Democratic Chair
