Arrington seeks 4th term in Congress, vows Republican return to control in D.C.
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U.S. Rep. Jodey Arrington's office announced Thursday that the three-term congressman who represents the 19th Congressional District will seek another two years in office.
Arrington, who lost a bid to serve in the Texas Senate, bounced back to win election to Congress in 2016, emerging from a crowded Republican field that included retired Dyess Air Force Base commander Michael Bob Starr.
Arrington, from Plainview, won a primary runoff and has faced no significant opposition by Democrats and others since.
In 2020, Arrington won 75% of the vote in defeating two challengers, including Abilene attorney Tom Watson, a Democrat, who took 22%.
A Republican has served the district since January 1985. The district absorbed much of the former District 17, led for years by Stamford-based Democrat Charlie Stenholm. Randy Neugebauer ousted Stenholm when the voters in 2004 chose which elected official to represent the district.
The 19th covers 29 counties including Taylor County. The east-west district extends from just east of Graham in Young County to the Texas-New Mexico border west of Lubbock.
A press release bills Arrington as a "constitutional and fiscal conservative."
His committee assignments have included Agriculture, Budget, Veterans' Affairs.
He is the senior member of the House Committee on Ways and Means and has been appointed to serve a second term as deputy chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee.
Arrington states a goal of helping Republicans win back control of Congress and the White House, citing the accomplishments of the Trump administration.
He points to his role in securing the B-21 bomber mission for Dyess AFB and expanding B-1 weapons systems upgrades.
"After a decade of cuts by the Obama administration, we restored America’s military might, our policy of peace through strength, and our leadership in the world," Arrington said in a release.
“West Texans expect their leaders to fight for them, follow through on their promises, and deliver results – and that’s exactly what we’ve done," Arrington said. "We cut taxes and regulations while negotiating America First trade deals, which led to record jobs, wage growth and prosperity. "
An opponent has not yet publicly announced candidacy.
Greg Jaklewicz is editor of the Abilene Reporter-News and general columnist. If you appreciate locally driven news, you can support local journalists with a digital subscription to ReporterNews.com.
This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Arrington seeks 4th term in Congress, vows Republican control in D.C.
