Steven Orr interviewed Tom Sell, who is running for the 19th Congressional District of Texas on Monday in Floydada. (FCR PHOTO)
FLOYDADA, TX – Tom Sell, a West Texan with decades of agricultural policy experience, is making his deep roots and proven record the cornerstones of his campaign for Texas’ 19th Congressional District.
Raised in both Lubbock and Amarillo with family from the Petersburg area, Sell says his lifelong connection to the region shapes the way he approaches public service.
“I’m a West Texas guy through and through,” Sell said. “My family has been around the Petersburg and Hale and northern Lubbock County area. This is home, and I understand the challenges our people face because I’ve lived them.”
After earning a degree in Agricultural Economics from Texas Tech University, Sell took his West Texas background to Washington, D.C., where he partnered with former Congressman Larry Combest to help craft the 2002 Farm Bill and lead a major rewrite of federal crop insurance.
His years in the Capitol exposed him to both the strengths and shortcomings of federal policymaking. “I’ve seen the best and the worst of Washington,” Sell said. “There’s an element of performance in politics — there always has been — but we’re leaning too far that way now. There aren’t enough people doing the real, meaningful work of getting the words right in a law that will be passed.”
Sell has built much of his platform around supporting agriculture, the backbone of the 19th District, which is the nation’s largest cotton-producing region. He warned that global pressures and offshoring pose long-term threats.
“One of the biggest problems with cotton in the United States is that all of the processing beyond the gin has been off-shored,” Sell said. “We have to stand by our farmers and ranchers and keep foreign powers from taking over our industry.”
He also emphasized the importance of independent, community-led financial institutions. “Local banks are essential to agriculture. Those relationships matter. They’re part of the fabric of rural communities,” he said.
Sell believes deregulation, done carefully, is key to helping small businesses and agricultural producers thrive. “We need to be smart about removing barriers so that independent, community-invested entrepreneurs can succeed,” he said.
Sell said inflation is harming both farmers and families in cities across the district. He argued that Congress must ensure federal funds are spent responsibly and as intended. “It’s important that taxpayer dollars are used the way they’re supposed to be,” he said.
Beyond economic issues, Sell acknowledged the cultural challenges affecting communities today and said his faith guides his approach. “I place my faith in God and try to live a life that honors my savior Jesus Christ,” he said.
Sell said his decision to run, seeking to represent all 33 counties in the district, comes from a sense of duty and purpose.
“I feel like it is the Lord’s call to step up and serve in this constitutional office and do good things for the nation,” he said.
As he continues meeting voters across West Texas, Sell says he hopes to bring integrity, expertise, and a long-range vision for agriculture and rural America to Washington.
“I want to empower U.S. agriculture for the long term,” he said. “If we take care of our farmers and ranchers, we take care of our nation.”
Those interested in learning more about Sell’s campaign can visit www.selltexastrue.com
