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.<\/p>\n
The primary results (unofficial) were:<\/p>\n
Sell: 31,388 votes, 40.4 percent.<\/p>\n
Enriquez: 14,568, 14.8 percent.<\/p>\n
Smith: 14,375, 14.4 percent<\/p>\n
Seven Republican candidates emerged after Jodey Arrington announced he would not seek reelection.<\/p>\n
Sell led the vote total in 32 of the district\u2019s 33 counties. Abilene\u2019s Smith won his Taylor County home base.<\/p>\n
\u201cGiven how close this is, we\u2019re evaluating all legal options, including a recount,\u201d Smith said.<\/p>\n
Former Lubbock County GOP Chairman Shooter said, \u201cIt\u2019s amazing the number of people who say that they don\u2019t care and their vote doesn\u2019t matter. We can see that it does. \u2026 We can see that in the difference between second and third in this race. Every vote counts. They can\u2019t leave any vote left on the table.\u201d<\/p>\n
But for now, it\u2019s Sell vs. Enriquez. The winner faces Democrat Kyle Rable in this fall\u2019s general election.<\/p>\n
Sixty percent of voters in West Texas wanted anything but Tom Sell.<\/p>\n
abraham enriquez<\/p>\n
\u201cSixty percent of voters in West Texas wanted anything but Tom Sell. His donations records speak for itself. \u2026 I understand there are times where you need bipartisan support for the things of the people of West Texas,\u201d Enriquez said.<\/p>\n
We\u2019ve 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.<\/p>\n
Tom sell<\/p>\n
Sell said, \u201cWe\u2019ve 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\u2019m not afraid of my past, I am ready to debate on any issue.\u201d<\/p>\n
Looking at county-by-county results, Shooter observed Sell had an all-around consistent performance around the district.<\/p>\n
Enriquez\u2019s strongest support in comparison to Sell was in Crosby, Martin, Scurry, Mitchell and Lubbock counties.<\/p>\n
\u201cAbraham, 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\u2019s actually known. This is where he\u2019s been involved,\u201d Shooter said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe steady performance sort of thing is really what it seems like Tom Sell was running on. He kind of went in and was the \u2018I\u2019ve been around, I know what I\u2019m doing\u2019 sort of guy. And that to me is what it seemed like his entire campaign was based on,\u201d Shooter said.<\/p>\n
Races headed for a runoff on May 26 are:<\/p>\n
U.S. Senate, John Cornyn vs. Ken Paxton (GOP)<\/p>\n
U.S. Representative District 19, Tom Sell vs. Abraham Enriquez (GOP)<\/p>\n
Texas Attorney General, Mayes Middleton vs. Chip Roy (GOP)<\/p>\n
Texas Railroad Commission, Jim Wright vs. Bo French (GOP)<\/p>\n
Justice of the Peace Precinct 3, Mary Hernandez vs. Traci Baxa (GOP)<\/p>\n
County Commissioner Precinct 2, Trey Newton vs. Kevin Pounds (GOP)<\/p>\n
County Commissioner Precinct 4, Jordan Rackler vs. Chad Seay (GOP)<\/p>\n
Democratic Party Chair, Gracie Gomez vs. Brian Carr (DEM)<\/p>\n
Campaign strategy<\/p>\n
Enriquez\u2019s campaign was \u201cheavily outspent\u201d by \u201canti-Trump forces,\u201d he told LubbockLights.com<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m the only candidate who has always stood by President Trump. \u2026 while others were disparaging him and his supporters, I stood with the president.\u201d<\/p>\n
When asked if there was anything he thinks the president should reconsider, Enriquez emphatically answered \u201cno.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been now, three campaigns with the president. \u2026 No one understands a fight like the president does,\u201d Enriquez said.<\/p>\n
He trusts the Trump\u2019s leadership and referred to Sell as a RINO or Republican in Name Only.<\/p>\n
Sell said, \u201cCampaigning is building these friendships and relationships across the district, hearing and listening to their issues and engaging in what we hope are thoughtful ways.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThese working meetings that we\u2019re having all around have been a lot of fun. I think it\u2019s helped us really build some really committed core support across the district,\u201d Sell said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I\u2019ve learned, even from the other candidates, you see what they\u2019re made of \u2013 and the issues that are important \u2013 and what they\u2019re hearing on the ground. I\u2019ve loved that process,\u201d Sell said.<\/p>\n
\u201cRyan Zink was raising some really big, constitutional issues. And I\u2019ve really enjoyed building a friendship with Ryan \u2026 Dr. May obviously has a great deal of expertise. \u2026 Same with Jason Corley,\u201d Sell said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re going to continue in our efforts to just continue to build relationships, build friendships, build trust all around the 33 counties of the district,\u201d Sell said.<\/p>\n
Both agreed the timing of Arrington\u2019s announcement (last November) put candidates in a tough spot.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s so much ground to cover in so little time. And just getting meetings and that kind of stuff organized everywhere is a challenge,\u201d Sell said.<\/p>\n
Enriquez said, \u201cWe were under immense, immense time pressure in the announcement of how Congressman Arrington announced he wasn\u2019t going to seek re-election.\u201d<\/p>\n
Smith hasn\u2019t given up<\/p>\n
Everyone will know more after mail-in ballots are counted, Smith said. He\u2019ll have between then and election canvass (March 12 according to the Texas secretary of state) to make a decision.<\/p>\n
![\"Matt](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/matt_smith_profile_756x1006-150x150.jpg\")
Matt Smith Credit: Campaign FB page<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to make sure I would like to thank all of the voters for getting out and being involved,\u201d Smith said.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople 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\u2019m not getting caught up in that. If someone has proof of something \u2026 of course I would like to see it. I would like to think that we have secure elections \u2013 that things are how everyone voted,\u201d Smith said.<\/p>\n
Enriquez believes he has enough votes to stay in the runoff, but added, \u201cI want to be very clear. Matt Smith, he is a great man. He\u2019s a friend.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sell said, \u201cMatt is still holding out hope and I want to honor him in that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/volunteer_activism_96dp_000000_FILL0_wght400_GRAD0_opsz48.png\")
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