When Kyla and I decided last November to run to serve Texas’ 19th District in Congress, we never could have imagined the outpouring of support we’d see across all 33 counties of this great region.
From Shallowater to Stanton, Andrews to Abilene, Lubbock to Lamesa, and every farm, ranch, main street, downtown, and community in between, we’ve felt immense gratitude for every handshake and every conversation.
We didn’t enter this race lightly – and we knew we wanted to do this in a way that hadn’t been done before. We leaned in on the motto of our beloved alma mater, Texas Tech University: “From here, it’s possible.”
Through thoughtful, prayerful conversations with our family, we felt the Lord call upon us to serve our neighbors in this way.
To represent
the West Texas values we were raised with.
To rise above the nastiness that permeates our politics.
To win the fight on the battlefield of ideas, not in personalities and mudslinging.
From day one, Kyla and I have felt called to speak to people’s hopes rather than playing to their fears.
So, here we are.
Election Day is upon us.
There’s no shortage of issues that we must contend with.
I’ve fought for West Texas my entire career, and I intend to bring that same grit and drive to serving the incredible people of the 19th in Congress.
In our travels, I’ve heard what matters most to West Texans: a safe community to call home, protecting their freedoms, and ensuring that their children and their children’s children can build a strong future right here in West Texas.
That’s why I’m proud of what President Trump and Congressional Republicans have accomplished, and why we must build on these wins – not go backwards.
The stakes couldn’t be higher.
After four years of chaos under the Biden administration, President Trump and Republicans have made our nation more secure, have safeguarded our freedoms, and have built on the promise of America.
President Trump and Congressional Republicans have made America, and West Texas, more secure.
- The border is finally secure under President Trump. Biden’s open border and soft-on-crime stance opened the floodgates for violent criminals to infiltrate our nation. Republicans have restored order, stopped the cartels, and halted the flow of illicit drugs into our communities.
- Our nation is safer because of the principles of Peace through Strength. Our military has been rebuilt, we’ve pressed our NATO partners to uphold their end of the deal and actively invest in achieving global peace, and we’ve decimated radical Islamic terrorists in the war on terror.
- America has reclaimed its place as a beacon of freedom, brutal dictators and tyrannical regimes have been toppled, and we’ve restored security and stability. The world is safer when America leads with strength.
- Violent crime rates have plummeted, and the rule of law has been restored. While Democrats sought to defund the police and endanger our communities, President Trump and Congressional Republicans have empowered law enforcement to do their jobs.
President Trump and Congressional Republicans have safeguarded our freedoms by:
- Dismantling the Democrats’ woke left DEI agenda and putting a stop to the cancel culture nonsense that flooded our classrooms and our conversations. At every turn, Democrats wanted to “remake” our institutions according to woke ideology. We can’t afford to turn back.
- Protecting your tax dollars by cracking down on waste, fraud, and abuse, and by right-sizing the bloated Federal bureaucracy. We must tackle our growing national debt, and “Reverse the Curse” by restoring fiscal sanity.
- Empowering Americans to make healthier choices, promoting better nutrition, and encouraging physical activity. Making America Healthy Again starts with healthier habits – not government-imposed mandates.
President Trump and Congressional Republicans continue to build upon the promise of America.
- Unleashing America’s potential by rebuilding our manufacturing, agriculture, and energy sectors. Republicans have cut taxes, slashed red-tape, and fought to expand domestic production. While Democrats sought to impose the Green New Scam on hardworking Americans, Republicans have put America First and given power back to the people to ensure we aren’t reliant upon foreign nations for critical needs.
- Investing in the future by cutting taxes and establishing Trump Accounts to help American children build a stronger financial future. Democrats want to raise your taxes and expand the government – Republicans will continue to fight so more of your hard-earned money stays in your pocket.
There is more that we can do to strengthen our nation, but it starts with us building on a strong foundation.
I’m honored to be on the ballot this November, and I’m asking for your vote to fight to keep our nation secure, protect our freedoms, and build on the promise of America as envisioned by our Founding Fathers – the West Texas way.
(Tom Sell is the Republican candidate for Texas Congressional District 19 in the 2026 general election.)
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Tom Sell: 'Security. Freedom. Promise.' a message for U.S. 19 voters
