Note: Jodey Arrington decided not to run for re-election after a decade in Congress representing the 19th District. These answers are republished from the March Primary, but only the runoff candidates are included and are listed in the order they appear on the ballot. The Texas Primary runoff is on Tuesday, May 26. Early voting is May 18–22. The winner will face Democrat Kyle Rable in November’s General Election.
Tom Sell
What are your three priorities and if elected, what will you do about them?
As your representative in the U.S. House, I will work to (1) rein in the size of the federal government, including support for a balanced federal budget, working to eliminate the national debt, and chucking costly regulations that frustrates economic growth and kills jobs; (2) preserve and rebuild the traditional, conservative values that made – and makes – America great, including protecting First Amendment rights of religion, promoting policies that help young couples to marry and raise a family and ensuring our schools are instilling strong values that will see our kids through a lifetime; (3) promote a robust West Texas economy that creates good paying jobs so our kids can live, work and raise a family right here on the High Plains, including by promoting our agriculture, energy, military, health care, transportation, housing, data and other important sectors of our economy. We owe it to our kids and our kids’ kids to do as our parents did and leave the next generation better off than the way things were left to us.
I’ve spent an entire career getting things done for West Texans and the economic sectors that create jobs for our people and as your representative in the U.S. House, I’ll keep after it, making sure our top priorities are met.
Separate from that, what is one federal issue that uniquely affects Lubbock/Abilene or West Texas and what would you do about it?
President Trump has once again unleashed U.S. energy production, West Texas has led the way and we must continue policies that build on this success. The president has rightly said time and again that food security is national security and, here again, West Texas farm and ranch families lead the way in food and fiber production. We need to have their backs. The president has fought to rebuild our military, including the Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene and we must never again retreat in the face of an increasingly dangerous world. And, having served on a hospital foundation board, I know that rural health care continues to be a top issue for West Texans. I’ve spent an entire career getting things done for West Texans and the economic sectors that create jobs for our people and as your representative in the U.S. House, I’ll keep after it, making sure our top priorities are met.
Outside the office you are seeking, what are the ways you have participated in the community, for example boards or volunteer positions?
I’ve had the privilege of serving the community in many different ways, including as an active part of our church community, as a hospital foundation board member, as an officer in Breedlove which feeds hungry people around the world with what we produce right here at home and coaching Little League baseball. Kyla and I have gotten to know so many other families and made so many friends in our community and throughout West Texas through volunteering and we wouldn’t ever trade in these incredible experiences, ones our kids will always cherish and never forget.
Is there an issue where you have a different opinion than President Trump?
I’m a tried-and-true Red Raiders football fan and the President seems to favor Army, Navy, Alabama, LSU and Clemson, but I know I can win him over. He’s a smart guy. We just need to get him out to West Texas.
Name a federal policy Arrington has championed you would continue and why?
Jodey is a longtime friend and I admire his record of public service. He was the tip of the spear in President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill that prevented the largest tax increase in history, unleashed U.S. energy production, beefed up the Farm Bill, rebuilt America’s military, restored border security and cut wasteful spending. Jodey has also been working to “Reverse the Curse,” encouraging fortitude in members of Congress to not deficit spend as we have. It’s a hard path, but I’m eager to carry that torch forward.
Jodey has built the reputation of Texas District 19 as the Food, Fuel, and Fiber Capital of the World, but I will seek a way to be even louder and prouder about our West Texas life and culture that blesses our nation and world.
tom sell
Name one policy where you’d change course from Arrington and why?
Jodey has built the reputation of Texas District 19 as the Food, Fuel, and Fiber Capital of the World, but I will seek a way to be even louder and prouder about our West Texas life and culture that blesses our nation and world.
What A-F grade would you give Congress over the past two years and why?
On moving President Trump’s agenda forward, including preventing the largest tax increase in history; making tax relief permanent and cutting taxes for seniors, young families with kids, and wage earners; cutting wasteful spending; rebuilding our military; securing our border; unleashing American energy production; strengthening farm policies; and other things important to West Texans, I’d give Congressional Republicans an A+. On harmful government shutdowns, I’d give the other side an F. There was a day and age when the interests of the country were put over the interests of politics and I hope to restore that sense of shared responsibility.
How would you balance the federal budget and how long would it take?
We’ve had a balanced budget once in my lifetime. I was directly exposed to the budget process at the time, working for Larry Combest. Nobody predicted a budget surplus, but the key was economic growth and fiscal responsibility. President Trump has proven he knows how to move an economy forward, to create growth and good-paying jobs, but he needs support in Congress and a Fed that doesn’t throw sand in the gears. Some think the answer is tax increases. They’re dead wrong. Economic growth and fiscal discipline are the right prescriptions. I’d pursue a balanced budget within 10 years.
Abraham Enriquez
What are your three priorities and if elected, what will you do about them?
My three priorities are border security, energy and economic growth, and protecting constitutional freedoms and families.
First, border security is national security. West Texas communities feel the consequences of cartel activity, fentanyl trafficking and human smuggling. I will support finishing the wall, ending catch-and-release, increasing Border Patrol resources and designating cartels as terrorist organizations. Congress must restore law and order at the border.
Second, I will fight for an energy-driven economy that unleashes West Texas oil, gas and agriculture. Washington’s overregulation has harmed producers, raised costs and slowed job growth. I will work to roll back harmful EPA rules, protect water rights for farmers and ranchers, expand drilling and pipeline capacity to keep Texas energy dominant. A strong energy sector means good jobs, lower prices and national security.
Third, I will defend constitutional freedoms and strengthen families. I serve on the NRA’s National Outreach Committee and will always defend the Second Amendment. I will support pro-life policies, protect parental rights in education and push back against federal overreach that undermines faith, family and local control.
These priorities are about restoring common sense: secure the border, grow the economy and protect the freedoms that make Texas strong.
Farmers and ranchers across the South Plains depend on the Ogallala for irrigation and production. Federal environmental regulations and one-size-fits-all water policies often ignore the realities of arid West Texas agriculture.
Abraham enriquez
Name one federal issue that uniquely affects West Texas and what would you do about it?
A uniquely West Texas issue is the Ogallala Aquifer and federal water policy.
Farmers and ranchers across the South Plains depend on the Ogallala for irrigation and production. Federal environmental regulations and one-size-fits-all water policies often ignore the realities of arid West Texas agriculture.
I will work to ensure federal agencies respect local groundwater districts and private property rights. We need incentives for conservation technology, support for crop innovation and federal research partnerships with Texas Tech University to extend the life of the aquifer without crippling producers.
Washington must stop treating West Texas with a cookie-cutter mentality. Our water challenges are unique and policy must reflect that.
Outside the office you are seeking, what are the ways you have participated in the community, for example boards or volunteer positions?
I founded a nationwide conservative outreach organization that began as a grassroots effort here in Lubbock and earned recognition from the Republican National Committee with its Rising Star Award. I serve on the NRA’s National Outreach Committee, working to expand Second Amendment education and engagement. I regularly partner with local pastors, business owners and civic leaders across Lubbock and West Texas to support families, faith communities and small businesses. My work has always been rooted in bringing people together around shared values and strengthening the communities we call home.
Is there an issue where you differ from President Trump?
President Trump reshaped the Republican Party by putting America First, securing the border and restoring economic and foreign-policy strength. There isn’t much I’ve disagreed with him on. As a vetted two-term advisor to President Trump, I worked alongside his team to help advance more than a dozen conservative bills in Congress that protect America. Where I would add emphasis is on the long-term water and agricultural sustainability challenges unique to West Texas, especially aquifer conservation and rural infrastructure, ensuring federal policy better reflects our region’s realities while continuing to advance the America First agenda we share.
Name a federal policy Arrington has championed you would continue and why?
Jodey Arrington has been a strong advocate for fiscal responsibility, serving on the House Budget Committee. I would continue his push for serious budget reform and spending discipline. Washington’s runaway spending has fueled inflation and weakened our economy. His leadership on budget matters aligns with my belief that Congress must return to responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars and restore financial accountability.
I believe we must take a more aggressive posture in confronting federal agencies that overregulate energy and agriculture. I would push for faster, stronger legislative efforts to roll back EPA and federal land use rules that hurt West Texas producers.
abraham enriquez
Name one policy where you’d change course from Arrington and why?
While Congressman Arrington has served the district diligently, I believe we must take a more aggressive posture in confronting federal agencies that overregulate energy and agriculture. I would push for faster, stronger legislative efforts to roll back EPA and federal land use rules that hurt West Texas producers. Our district needs a louder, more confrontational voice when federal bureaucrats threaten our livelihoods. That also means a farm bill that truly supports West Texas producers.
What A-F grade would you give Congress over the past two years and why?
I would give Congress a C. Lawmakers have failed to truly control spending. President Trump inherited a mess after Biden. Too much time has been spent on political theater and not enough on delivering results. Americans expect Congress to solve problems, not create them. President Trump has made great strides, but there is more work to be done.
How would you balance the federal budget and how long would it take?
Balancing the budget will require multi-year discipline. I would support a plan to balance it within 8-10 years through spending caps, eliminating wasteful programs, expanding domestic energy production to grow revenue and reforming entitlement programs to ensure long-term solvency without harming current seniors. Growth and discipline must work together.
