Rep. Jodey Arrington Announces He Won’t Seek Re-election After a Decade in Congress

Lubbock Republican Rep. Jodey Arrington, chairman of the critical House Budget Committee, announced Tuesday that he will not seek re-election after almost a decade in Congress.

“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,” Arrington stated. “I have always believed that public service is a lifetime commitment and public office a temporary stint in stewardship, not a career.”

In 2016, Plainview native Arrington was elected to represent Texas's 19th Congressional District, which encompasses Lubbock, Abilene, Big Spring, and Plainview. One week after former President Donald Trump endorsed him for another term, he decided not to run again.

The announcement begins the Republican primary on March 3. Registering candidates started Nov. 9 and ends Dec. 8. Lubbock Democrat Kyle Rable filed to run for the seat on the first day of the filing process.

Arrington, who was not immediately available for further comment, reflected on his stint in Congress and highlighted his committee work and regional advocacy in his message. As Budget Committee chairman, Arrington has been a significant voice for fiscal austerity and agriculture policy.

A longtime figure in Texas Republican politics, Arrington’s career began in the 1990s when he served under then-Gov. George W. Bush before becoming a senior adviser in the Bush White House. He returned to Texas Tech University to earn his bachelor's and master's degrees in political science and public administration. Arrington became Texas Tech University System chief of staff in 2006 and vice chancellor for research and commercialization in 2011.

The conservative district, which has not elected a Democrat in decades, will likely hold a complex Republican primary once the congressman leaves.