Welcome to the 19th Congressional District race, where the primary objective isn’t actually “governing,” but proving you’re the most “West Texas” human to ever breathe Lubbock dust. Since Jodey Arrington decided he’d finally had enough of the D.C. humidity (or just the job), we have seven—yes, seven—candidates currently elbowing each other in the ribs to take his seat.
On one side, we have Tom Sell, a man whose family has apparently been here since 1906. He’s leaning heavily into the “I’m a fifth-generation local who coaches Little League” vibe, which is Lubbock-speak for “I have more red dirt in my DNA than you.” He’s got the backing of the corn and cotton folks, because nothing says “Washington ready” like knowing exactly how much a bushel of sorghum costs. Sell has already hoovered up over $1.2 million, proving that being a “local guy” pays remarkably well if you know the right people in Ag.
Then there’s Abraham Enriquez, who has decided that instead of talking about cotton yields, he’ll just point at a photo of himself with Donald Trump. His campaign strategy is basically a giant foam finger pointing toward Mar-a-Lago. While Sell talks about the Farm Bill, Enriquez is busy being the “America First” candidate, backed by Governor Abbott and a “Bienvenido” banner. It’s a classic Lubbock standoff: do you want the guy who knows your soil type, or the guy who has the President’s cell number (or at least a very nice headshot with him)?
The rest of the field is a delightful Lubbock sampler platter. We’ve got Jason Corley, a former county commissioner who thinks his “elected experience” matters (bless his heart), despite only raising $10,000—which, in congressional terms, is roughly the cost of a few nice yard signs and a Chick-fil-A catering tray. And let’s not forget Ryan Zink, whose primary qualification is a Jan. 6 conviction and a subsequent pardon. Because in the current GOP climate, a federal rap sheet is basically a LinkedIn endorsement.
With Trump winning this district by 52 points in 2024, the March 3rd primary is the only part of this “democracy” thing that actually matters. The winner gets a one-way ticket to D.C. and a seat they’ll likely hold until the heat death of the universe, or at least for the next twenty years.