Rep. Jodey Arrington of Texas’s 19th District, a native of Plainview, announced on Tuesday that he will not seek re-election to his seat in the U.S. House after a decade in office. In his statement, Rep. Arrington expressed gratitude for his time in office.
“After much prayer and deliberation, I believe it’s time to pass the torch to the next citizen-legislator from the Food, Fuel, and Fiber Capital of the World. It has always been my firm conviction that public service be a lifetime commitment, while public office a temporary stint in stewardship – not a career. Representing the God-fearing, freedom-loving people of West Texas has been a labor of love and an honor of a lifetime—and I will be forever grateful for the trust they placed in me.”
Terry County Republican Party Chairman Eric Horton said, “I really hate to see him go; however, I understand. Personally, I feel that our lower and upper chambers of the US Congress should have term limits. Representative Arrington did a good job on Capitol Hill, and we are really going to miss him as probably the sixth most powerful person in the House, being the Budget Committee Chairman.”
Rep. Arrington, a Republican, is currently serving as the chairman of the House Budget Committee. This position offers a unique opportunity to influence the federal budget process significantly. The chairman plays a vital role in shaping the committee’s agenda by effectively managing staff, scheduling hearings, and guiding budget proposals and legislation. Through this leadership, the chairman can prioritize critical budgetary issues and positively influence federal spending, thereby contributing to a more effective and responsible budget process.
Rep. Arrington was also recently endorsed by President Donald Trump on Truth Social on November 2nd
President Trump wrote, “Congressman Jodey Arrington is doing an incredible job representing the amazing people of Texas’ 19th Congressional District! As the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, Jodey knows the America First Policies required to Create GREAT Jobs, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Promote MADE IN THE U.S.A., Advance American Energy DOMINANCE, and Champion our Nation’s Golden Age. He is also fighting tirelessly to Keep our now very Secure Border, SECURE, Strengthen our Military/Veterans, and Defend our always under siege Second Amendment. Jodey Arrington has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election — HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN SECURE, Strengthen our Military/Veterans, and Defend our always under siege Second Amendment.
Rep. Jodey Arrington, known for representing the what he calls the “Food, Fiber, and Fuel Capital of the World,” was first elected to represent his district in 2016 and has since won each re-election by wide margins. During the 2016 primary, nine candidates vied for the seat previously held by former Rep. Randy Neugebauer, who announced his retirement.
In the first round of the 2016 primary voting, Arrington came in second place to Glen Robertson, the former two-time mayor of Lubbock. Since neither candidate received more than 50% of the vote, the race went to a runoff, where Arrington won with 53.7% of the vote, a margin of 3,490 votes. In the general primary election, both candidates received over 27,000 votes each, and more than 104,000 votes were cast, compared to the 47,154 votes in the primary runoff.
Throughout his five general election campaigns, Arrington has averaged a 79.54% win rate. At 53 years old, he is considered a fiscal hawk and has gained significant influence as the chair of the budget committee. He was also the key sponsor of H.R. 1, known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
The U.S. District 19 in Texas is one of the largest legislative districts in the country, encompassing all or part of 14 counties and covering more than 35,000 square miles, including over 180 miles along the Texas-New Mexico state line.
Rep. Arrington mentioned in his statement, “It was my highest privilege to author and lead President Trump’s ‘One Big Beautiful Bill,’ the principle legislative vehicle for advancing the America First Agenda, which included the largest tax and spending cuts, largest single investment in national and border security, and most significant welfare reforms in U.S. history.”
He was also recently considered to succeed former Texas Tech University System Chancellor Tedd L. Mitchell, who announced his retirement earlier this year. Ultimately, the system selected former state Sen. Brandon Creighton for the position.
Rep. Arrington also wrote about other accomplishments saying, “I am proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish together from restoring cotton to the Farm Bill, to securing the next generation bomber at Dyess Air Force Base, to establishing the Ports-to-Plains federal highway – all of which represent billions of dollars to our economy and a brighter future for West Texas.
According to TownTalk sources, a short list of individuals from Lubbock may be interested in this position. However, it is unclear if there is a similar list from Abilene. Time will tell, as there are now 27 days left to file. According to the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, Lubbock Democrat Kyle Rable has announced he has registered to run in the Democratic primary for the seat, having filed for the race on Saturday, Nov. 9.
