West Texas Native Tom Sell visited Littlefield’s Ag Center on Thursday, January 22, as a part of his campaign to become the Republican candidate for Texas’s 19th Congressional District.
Fueling his campaign with promises of honoring traditional conservative values, standing with President Donald J. Trump’s policies, and uplifting farmers and ranchers, Sell continuously emphasized his allegiance to serving as proper rural West Texas representation in Congress.
“Washington D.C. needs more West Texas,” Sell said. “They need people of faith, people who love freedom and take personal responsibility to serve the communities around them. These are the values that make America truly great.”
The fifth-generation West Texan’s educational background includes an agribusiness and law degree from Texas Tech University. Notably, Sell would go on to work alongside former congressman Larry Combest on agriculture legislation such as the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 and the Crop Insurance Reform Act of 2000.
Agriculture
The most prominent topic in Sell’s campaign revolved around agriculture and proper advocacy for farmers.
“We need someone who’s going to be able to fight for the issues that are so important to this region,” Sell said.)”When you look at the industries that employ the people in this region, we have agriculture and energy production. We need someone who understands those industries and can confidently speak to those issues in Washington, D. C.– I would hope to champion the interest.”
Moreover, Sell said he plans to support efforts like 4-H and the National FFA Organization to develop future leaders within the 19th District.
“I would want to serve on the Ag Committee and make sure that we are investing in the future leadership of our country and those organizations like 4H and FFA,” Sell said. “I’d love to see them reaching more into the urban areas. We need to stand by and support FFA.”
Border Policy
Attributing the change to President Trump, Sell said border security is solved. Sell now wants to work to create a streamlined process for more guest-worker programs.
“ We need workers in West Texas, we need to streamline and improve guest-worker programs and other kinds of programs,” Sell said. “We need certainty for the families. The U.S. should be and always will be a place of hope for immigrants who are willing to come and work hard to try and build something for their families.”
Condemning Woke Ideology
Another cornerstone of Sell’s campaign is combating woke ideology to usher in conservative ideals.
“They were funding these ideas that undermined the very basic things we know,” Sell said. “It had us questioning things like, ‘Am I the biological sex the way that God made me?’ and that is corrosive. When you start questioning the very basics, you’re going against the law, the order that God established.” Sell said transgender athletes and the lack of personal responsibility comprise woke ideology.
“It’s about personal responsibility versus a government trying to come in and take care of everyone,” Sell said. “That is how this woke ideology plays out, it’s trying to play on people’s guilt and say, ‘ You have it so good, shouldn’t this other person?’ The reality is that can’t be achieved by the government … that’s a false promise.”
To combat this, Sell said fostering “a good biblical world that acknowledges sin and the need for a savior,” but strives on personal responsibility over personal grievances is a probable approach.
Energy
Two energy objectives Sell proposed included advocating for rural energy and finding solutions for low-cost energy.
“ We want businesses and families to have ample, reliable, stable, inexpensive energy supplies,” Sell said. “We are blessed in the United States because of what is produced out here in rural America. Low- cost energy is key to good business.”
Healthcare
Healthcare remains a top issue for Democratic and Republican voters. Looking ahead to 2027, Sell said he expects to continue working on the issue by then if elected.
“What we’re seeing in the Republicans right now, what I would hope to see, is trying to build efficiencies into the program that are going to reduce costs for the patient who needs it,” Sell said. “The biggest place where you can cut is on pharmaceuticals and in some of the insurance costs. It’s challenging, it’s complicated– they’re going to be working on it all this year.”
Sell’s voters collectively expressed similar reasons for their support. Keith Layton said Tom Sell’s rural West Texas representation in Congress would be a breath of fresh air.
“ He’s not a repeat of Jodey Arrington, but he’s just down to Earth, conservative, and just a good person with family values,” Lee Logan said. “He cares about cotton, farming and our rural communities. I think he’s a great fit for what we’re looking for in this part of the country.”
The last day to register to vote in the Texas primaries is Monday, February 2, 2026. Early voting begins Tuesday, February 17, 2026, and lasts through Friday, February 20, 2026.
Election day is March 3, 2026.