LUBBOCK, Texas — With early voting and Election Day for the Texas 2026 March primaries just around the corner, U.S. Rep. Jodey Arrington is weighing in on who he thinks should be his successor.
In November 2025, Arrington, a Lubbock Republican, announced he would not seek re-election for the Texas 19th U.S. Congressional District seat he’s represented for nearly a decade.
This, in turn, opened the floodgates for seven Republican candidates and a lone Democratic contender vying for his seat, trying to be the next U.S. Rep. for a district that covers a wide swath of Texas including Lubbock, Abilene and Big Spring.
In an interview with the Avalanche-Journal, Arrington weighed in on what he thinks are the qualities his successor needs to effectively represent the district and continue work the region needs.
“Those folks who are vying to be my successor, I’m certain they’re all saying the right things, but the difference between a politician and a leader is not saying the right things, it’s doing the right things,” Arrington said.
He further elaborated on this idea of a leader by saying that to be successful, the candidate must be willing to fight hard for the West Texas values and follow through on the things they are promising they will do during their campaign.
“Too many people come to Washington and become politicians, and they take their foot off the gas, and they start to moderate on the things that they do, and equivocate on the things that they said they would do,” Arrington said.
It boils down to being vigilant, working hard and fighting for the things that are important to the people of West Texas — the values, the interests, and for the children’s future, he said.
So, who will Arrington endorse ahead of early voting and Election Day for the Texas primaries, which begins Feb. 17?
No one.
“I plan on letting the voters of West Texas make that decision,” Arrington said. “I trust the good judgment of the people of West Texas to figure it out. I know there are a lot of good candidates, and I know there are a lot of folks who would do a good job, but I’m gonna let the people of West Texas make that decision.”
But while the voters of West Texas decide who will succeed him, Arrington said he’s not going to take his foot off the gas, looking at passing:
He also hopes to make progress on other bills aimed at helping the voters of West Texas before the congressman’s term expires on Jan. 3, 2027.
“I’ve taken on this job as a sacred trust from them, and I hope they’re as proud as I am with the results of our 10 years of leadership and representation, but there’s always more work to do to preserve the Republic,” Arrington said.
Early voting for the Texas Republican and Democratic Primaries start on Tuesday, Feb. 17 and runs until Friday, Feb. 27. Election Day is March 3, 2026.
Mateo Rosiles is a reporter for the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal and USA TODAY Network in Texas. Got a news tip for him? Email him: mrosiles@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Who did U.S. Rep. Arrington endorse in TX-19 race? Here’s what he said
Reporting by Mateo Rosiles, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal / Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
