Biography
Tom Sell is the Republican nominee for the open West Texas seat in the 19th District, held by retiring Rep. Jodey Arrington. A Lubbock resident who describes himself as a fifth-generation West Texan, he worked for former U.S. Rep. Larry Combest, served as deputy staff director of the House Agriculture Committee, and has run the Lubbock firm Combest, Sell & Associates for about 21 years. He won the Republican primary runoff on May 26, 2026, with 64.3% of the vote.[1][2][3][4][5]
According to his campaign website, Sell is a fifth-generation West Texan; his family moved to Lubbock as sharecroppers in 1906, according to The Texas Tribune.[2][3] USA Rice Daily reports he was born and raised in the 19th District, where he met his wife, Kyla.[4] He earned a bachelor's degree and a J.D. from Texas Tech University; his campaign website says the bachelor's was in agribusiness.[1][2]
Sell worked in the office of former U.S. Rep. Larry Combest (R-Texas) and served as deputy staff director for the House Committee on Agriculture, which Combest chaired, from 1999 to early 2003, according to The Texas Tribune.[1][3] According to his campaign website, he helped advance the Crop Insurance Reform Act of 2000 and the 2002 Farm Bill while working for Combest.[2] After leaving Capitol Hill he returned to Lubbock and founded the firm now called Combest, Sell & Associates with Combest, and he has run it for about 21 years, according to USA Rice Daily.[1][2][3][4] In the Republican primary, opponent Jason Corley called him a "career lobbyist."[3]
Sell ran in the 2026 Republican primary for the open 19th District seat, led the seven-candidate March 3 field with 40.4%, and defeated Abraham Enriquez in the May 26 runoff, 64.3% to 35.7%.[1][5] He lives in Lubbock with his wife, Kyla; the couple raised four children, and their campaign site says they are active in their church and community and mentor students at Texas Tech's Davis College of Agriculture.[2][3][4] The Tribune reports he has coached Little League.[3]
- 1.Tom Sell · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
- 2.About Tom Sell · Tom Sell for Congress Candidate's own words
- 3.Texas congressional 19: Tom Sell, Abraham Enriquez · The Texas Tribune · 2026-02-26 News report
- 4.Tom Sell Enters Race for US House in TX-19 · USA Rice Daily · 2025-11-14 News report
- 5.Sell wins District 19 Republican primary runoff · KCBD · 2026-05-27 News report
Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21.
On the ballot
Full candidate research ›U.S. House · Texas's 19th District ›