With a bit more than 75 days until the Republican May 26 runoff for Texas District 19 Congress, voters will hear different approaches from candidates Tom Sell and Abraham Enriquez.
Related story: Former GOP county chair shares insights about other runoff races beyond Congress – U.S. Senate, some local races
The only thing that could change is if Matt Smith, third-place finisher in the March 3 Texas Primary, finds a way to make up 193 votes behind Enriquez, putting him in the runoff.
The primary results (unofficial) were:
Sell: 31,388 votes, 40.4 percent.
Enriquez: 14,568, 14.8 percent.
Smith: 14,375, 14.4 percent
Seven Republican candidates emerged after Jodey Arrington announced he would not seek reelection.
Sell led the vote total in 32 of the district’s 33 counties. Abilene’s Smith won his Taylor County home base.
“Given how close this is, we’re evaluating all legal options, including a recount,” Smith said.
Former Lubbock County GOP Chairman Shooter said, “It’s amazing the number of people who say that they don’t care and their vote doesn’t matter. We can see that it does. … We can see that in the difference between second and third in this race. Every vote counts. They can’t leave any vote left on the table.”
But for now, it’s Sell vs. Enriquez. The winner faces Democrat Kyle Rable in this fall’s general election.
Sixty percent of voters in West Texas wanted anything but Tom Sell.
abraham enriquez
“Sixty percent of voters in West Texas wanted anything but Tom Sell. His donations records speak for itself. … I understand there are times where you need bipartisan support for the things of the people of West Texas,” Enriquez said.
We’ve run a positive campaign trying to honor the people of TX-19, talking about issues important to them and why I am a true conservative voice.
Tom sell
Sell said, “We’ve run a positive campaign trying to honor the people of TX-19, talking about issues important to them and why I am a true conservative voice. Since voters recognize that, my opponent only has one option left and that is to attack me. Unlike Abraham, I’m not afraid of my past, I am ready to debate on any issue.”
Looking at county-by-county results, Shooter observed Sell had an all-around consistent performance around the district.
Enriquez’s strongest support in comparison to Sell was in Crosby, Martin, Scurry, Mitchell and Lubbock counties.
“Abraham, I think with his performance really being heavier in the Lubbock area, I think a lot of that probably is because this is where he’s actually known. This is where he’s been involved,” Shooter said.
“The steady performance sort of thing is really what it seems like Tom Sell was running on. He kind of went in and was the ‘I’ve been around, I know what I’m doing’ sort of guy. And that to me is what it seemed like his entire campaign was based on,” Shooter said.
Races headed for a runoff on May 26 are:
U.S. Senate, John Cornyn vs. Ken Paxton (GOP)
U.S. Representative District 19, Tom Sell vs. Abraham Enriquez (GOP)
Texas Attorney General, Mayes Middleton vs. Chip Roy (GOP)
Texas Railroad Commission, Jim Wright vs. Bo French (GOP)
Justice of the Peace Precinct 3, Mary Hernandez vs. Traci Baxa (GOP)
County Commissioner Precinct 2, Trey Newton vs. Kevin Pounds (GOP)
County Commissioner Precinct 4, Jordan Rackler vs. Chad Seay (GOP)
Democratic Party Chair, Gracie Gomez vs. Brian Carr (DEM)
Campaign strategy
Enriquez’s campaign was “heavily outspent” by “anti-Trump forces,” he told LubbockLights.com
“I’m the only candidate who has always stood by President Trump. … while others were disparaging him and his supporters, I stood with the president.”
When asked if there was anything he thinks the president should reconsider, Enriquez emphatically answered “no.”
“I’ve been now, three campaigns with the president. … No one understands a fight like the president does,” Enriquez said.
He trusts the Trump’s leadership and referred to Sell as a RINO or Republican in Name Only.
Sell said, “Campaigning is building these friendships and relationships across the district, hearing and listening to their issues and engaging in what we hope are thoughtful ways.”
“These working meetings that we’re having all around have been a lot of fun. I think it’s helped us really build some really committed core support across the district,” Sell said.
“And I’ve learned, even from the other candidates, you see what they’re made of – and the issues that are important – and what they’re hearing on the ground. I’ve loved that process,” Sell said.
“Ryan Zink was raising some really big, constitutional issues. And I’ve really enjoyed building a friendship with Ryan … Dr. May obviously has a great deal of expertise. … Same with Jason Corley,” Sell said.
“We’re going to continue in our efforts to just continue to build relationships, build friendships, build trust all around the 33 counties of the district,” Sell said.
Both agreed the timing of Arrington’s announcement (last November) put candidates in a tough spot.
“It’s so much ground to cover in so little time. And just getting meetings and that kind of stuff organized everywhere is a challenge,” Sell said.
Enriquez said, “We were under immense, immense time pressure in the announcement of how Congressman Arrington announced he wasn’t going to seek re-election.”
Smith hasn’t given up
Everyone will know more after mail-in ballots are counted, Smith said. He’ll have between then and election canvass (March 12 according to the Texas secretary of state) to make a decision.
Matt Smith Credit: Campaign FB page
“I want to make sure I would like to thank all of the voters for getting out and being involved,” Smith said.
“People have come to me claiming areas of question and thinking that there may be some issues with voter integrity. And I would just say I’m not getting caught up in that. If someone has proof of something … of course I would like to see it. I would like to think that we have secure elections – that things are how everyone voted,” Smith said.
Enriquez believes he has enough votes to stay in the runoff, but added, “I want to be very clear. Matt Smith, he is a great man. He’s a friend.”
Sell said, “Matt is still holding out hope and I want to honor him in that.”
Related
Related posts