Texas' 19th Congressional District election, 2024

2026 → ← 2022
Texas' 19th Congressional District
Democratic primary Republican primary General election
Election details
Filing deadline: December 11, 2023
Primary: March 5, 2024 Primary runoff: May 28, 2024 General: November 5, 2024
How to vote
Poll times: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voting in Texas
Race ratings
Cook Political Report: Solid Republican DDHQ and The Hill: Safe Republican Inside Elections: Solid Republican Sabato's Crystal Ball: Safe Republican
Ballotpedia analysis
U.S. Senate battlegrounds U.S. House battlegrounds Federal and state primary competitiveness Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2024
See also
Texas' 19th Congressional District U.S. Senate • 1st • 2nd • 3rd • 4th • 5th • 6th • 7th • 8th • 9th • 10th • 11th • 12th • 13th • 14th • 15th • 16th • 17th • 18th • 19th • 20th • 21st • 22nd • 23rd • 24th • 25th • 26th • 27th • 28th • 29th • 30th • 31st • 32nd • 33rd • 34th • 35th • 36th • 37th • 38th Texas elections, 2024 U.S. Congress elections, 2024 U.S. Senate elections, 2024 U.S. House elections, 2024 Alabama U.S. House racesAlaska U.S. House racesArizona U.S. House racesArkansas U.S. House racesCalifornia U.S. House racesColorado U.S. House racesConnecticut U.S. House racesDelaware U.S. House racesFlorida U.S. House racesGeorgia U.S. House racesHawaii U.S. House racesIdaho U.S. House racesIllinois U.S. House racesIndiana U.S. House racesIowa U.S. House racesKansas U.S. House racesKentucky U.S. House racesLouisiana U.S. House racesMaine U.S. House racesMaryland U.S. House racesMassachusetts U.S. House racesMichigan U.S. House racesMinnesota U.S. House racesMississippi U.S. House racesMissouri U.S. House racesMontana U.S. House racesNebraska U.S. House racesNevada U.S. House racesNew Hampshire U.S. House racesNew Jersey U.S. House racesNew Mexico U.S. House racesNew York U.S. House racesNorth Carolina U.S. House racesNorth Dakota U.S. House racesOhio U.S. House racesOklahoma U.S. House racesOregon U.S. House racesPennsylvania U.S. House racesRhode Island U.S. House racesSouth Carolina U.S. House racesSouth Dakota U.S. House racesTennessee U.S. House racesTexas U.S. House racesUtah U.S. House racesVermont U.S. House racesVirginia U.S. House racesWashington U.S. House racesWest Virginia U.S. House racesWisconsin U.S. House racesWyoming U.S. House racesSubmit

All U.S. House districts, including the 19th Congressional District of Texas, held elections in 2024. The general election was November 5, 2024. The primary was March 5, 2024, and a primary runoff was May 28, 2024. The filing deadline was December 11, 2023.

The outcome of this race affected the partisan balance of the U.S. House of Representatives in the 119th Congress. All 435 House districts were up for election.

At the time of the election, Republicans held a 220-212 majority with three vacancies. As a result of the election, Republicans retained control of the U.S. House, winning 220 seats to Democrats' 215. To read more about the 2024 U.S. House elections, click here.

In the 2022 election in this district, the Republican candidate won 80.3%-19.7%. Daily Kos calculated what the results of the 2020 presidential election in this district would have been following redistricting. Donald Trump (R) would have defeated Joe Biden (D) 72.4%-26.2%.

For more information about the primaries in this election, click on the links below:

• Texas' 19th Congressional District election, 2024 (March 5 Democratic primary)
• Texas' 19th Congressional District election, 2024 (March 5 Republican primary)

Candidates and election results

General election

General election for U.S. House Texas District 19

Incumbent Jodey Arrington defeated Nathan Lewis and Bernard Johnson in the general election for U.S. House Texas District 19 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jodey Arrington (R)	80.7	214,950
		Nathan Lewis (Independent)	10.3	27,461
		Bernard Johnson (L)	9.0	23,964

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 266,375
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 19

Incumbent Jodey Arrington defeated Chance Ferguson, Vance Boyd, and Ryan Zink in the Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 19 on March 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jodey Arrington	83.5	70,705
		Chance Ferguson	7.5	6,316
		Vance Boyd	6.0	5,116
		Ryan Zink	3.1	2,586

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 84,723
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Libertarian convention

Libertarian convention for U.S. House Texas District 19

Bernard Johnson advanced from the Libertarian convention for U.S. House Texas District 19 on March 23, 2024.

		Candidate
✔		Bernard Johnson (L)

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Candidate profiles

This section includes candidate profiles that may be created in one of two ways: either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff may compile a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy. For more on how we select candidates to include, click here.

Bernard Johnson

Party: Libertarian Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography:  "My name is Bernard Johnson, and I have been a resident of this region for a long time. I have received my education locally and have strong ties to the community. I am dedicated to fostering relationships and facilitating meaningful engagement by organizing town hall meetings to address the concerns of constituents. My objective is to create a platform for community members to express their opinions and needs, in order to promote better understanding and support."

---

Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

---

First and foremost, I want voters to understand that their voices will carry weight in Washington DC if I am elected. As a candidate not affiliated with either major political party, constituents can trust that I share their dissatisfaction with politicians imposing their agendas on the public. With a focus on serving the community and the country, my goal is to restore a true representative government and protect individual rights through new laws. I recognize the diverse range of political perspectives within our district and nation, and believe that as a Libertarian candidate, I can bring together different factions to work towards the common goal of ensuring the future prosperity of our nation.

---

Voters should understand that the United States Constitution upholds the principle of individual autonomy for adult citizens, providing them with the inherent right to select their preferred form of governance. However, it is important to recognize that over time, many constitutional rights have been transferred from the people to government officials. As a candidate, my goal is to combat voter apathy by promoting community engagement. Through coming together to discuss and address each other's concerns and needs, individuals are more likely to find common ground in their experiences. By working together towards a common goal, we can strive to achieve positive outcomes for everyone.

---

The current political climate is marked by differing opinions and ongoing disagreements, a pattern that has been consistent for some time. The foundation of our nation is not in the politicians themselves, but in the collective values and honesty of its people. Regrettably, there are some politicians who prioritize their own interests over the well-being of their constituents, resulting in the marginalization of certain voices in our society. As a representative, my focus is on addressing the needs and issues of all individuals, particularly those from minority groups. I am dedicated to making decisions independently, without being swayed or controlled by political elites.

This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House Texas District 19 in 2024.

Nathan Lewis

Party: Independent

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography:  "Born and raised in rural Nebraska, I've lived in Lubbock since 2006. My education was focused on Electrical Engineering at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. I've been concerned about natural resource depletion and sustainable systems the last 25 years and the way I've lived my life is a testament to that. I feel a deep sense of responsibility to leave the World a better place than how I found it. I recently helped form a nonprofit to help bring clean energy to low and moderate income people and the organizations that help these communities."

---

Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

---

Greed is not a virtue, no matter how many people wish it to be so. Greed does not mean ambition, desire or achievement-at least in the way I think most people understand those terms. Donald Trump in 2014- "My whole life I’ve been greedy, greedy, greedy. I’ve grabbed all the money I could get. I’m so greedy." Nancy Pelosi in 2021- "They [Congresspeople] should be able to participate in that [trading stock]." It should be about trust, no? Is there a deficit of trust in America? With our lawmakers? Shouldn't our most powerful leaders be our simplest servants? I live a modest life, but I'm willing to work for minimum wage or nothing at all.

---

The type of two party system which is present in America is an outlier. It helps drive the 'Us vs. Them' dynamic at play in almost every issue. Demonization of the 'other'. We need reforms like the Fair Representation Act which would bring us closer to the Representational Democracies present in most other developed countries. Eliminates the 'picking the worst of two evils' that so many people feel when going into the voting booth, and may get some people to think that they can pick someone who represents them better. Ranked choice voting, approval voting, scored voting. We can do better.

---

We are all going to die at some point, so what else is there other than trying to make the World a better place than how we found it? If we don't leave a sustainable, stable backdrop, everything we have worked for, built, and the influence we've had on others will be lost forever. Abundance not scarcity. There is no shortage of money, resources, intellect, time or courage to do what we need to do. 'Money is a man-made device, and for an entire economy to be perpetually in the position of not being able to do what it wants, simply for lack of bits of paper with numbers on them, is strong evidence that the shortage of those bits of paper and numbers lacks all validity.'- Michael Rowbotham 'The Grip of Death'

This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House Texas District 19 in 2024.

Voting information

See also: Voting in Texas

Election information in Texas: Nov. 5, 2024, election.

What was the voter registration deadline?

• In-person: Oct. 7, 2024
• By mail: Postmarked by Oct. 7, 2024
• Online: N/A

Was absentee/mail-in voting available to all voters?

No

What was the absentee/mail-in ballot request deadline?

• In-person: Oct. 25, 2024
• By mail: Received by Oct. 25, 2024
• Online: N/A

What was the absentee/mail-in ballot return deadline?

• In-person: Nov. 5, 2024
• By mail: Postmarked by Nov. 5, 2024

Was early voting available to all voters?

Yes

What were the early voting start and end dates?

Oct. 21, 2024 to Nov. 1, 2024

Were all voters required to present ID at the polls? If so, was a photo or non-photo ID required?

N/A

When were polls open on Election Day?

7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. (CST/MST)

Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses

Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Survey responses from candidates in this race

Click on a candidate's name to visit their Ballotpedia page.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Expand all | Collapse all

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Bernard Johnson (L)

First and foremost, I want voters to understand that their voices will carry weight in Washington DC if I am elected. As a candidate not affiliated with either major political party, constituents can trust that I share their dissatisfaction with politicians imposing their agendas on the public.

With a focus on serving the community and the country, my goal is to restore a true representative government and protect individual rights through new laws. I recognize the diverse range of political perspectives within our district and nation, and believe that as a Libertarian candidate, I can bring together different factions to work towards the common goal of ensuring the future prosperity of our nation.

Voters should understand that the United States Constitution upholds the principle of individual autonomy for adult citizens, providing them with the inherent right to select their preferred form of governance. However, it is important to recognize that over time, many constitutional rights have been transferred from the people to government officials.

As a candidate, my goal is to combat voter apathy by promoting community engagement. Through coming together to discuss and address each other's concerns and needs, individuals are more likely to find common ground in their experiences. By working together towards a common goal, we can strive to achieve positive outcomes for everyone.

The current political climate is marked by differing opinions and ongoing disagreements, a pattern that has been consistent for some time. The foundation of our nation is not in the politicians themselves, but in the collective values and honesty of its people. Regrettably, there are some politicians who prioritize their own interests over the well-being of their constituents, resulting in the marginalization of certain voices in our society.

As a representative, my focus is on addressing the needs and issues of all individuals, particularly those from minority groups. I am dedicated to making decisions independently, without being swayed or controlled by political elites.

Nathan Lewis (Independent)

Greed is not a virtue, no matter how many people wish it to be so. Greed does not mean ambition, desire or achievement-at least in the way I think most people understand those terms.

Donald Trump in 2014- "My whole life I’ve been greedy, greedy, greedy. I’ve grabbed all the money I could get. I’m so greedy." Nancy Pelosi in 2021- "They [Congresspeople] should be able to participate in that [trading stock]." It should be about trust, no? Is there a deficit of trust in America? With our lawmakers? Shouldn't our most powerful leaders be our simplest servants? I live a modest life, but I'm willing to work for minimum wage or nothing at all.

The type of two party system which is present in America is an outlier. It helps drive the 'Us vs. Them' dynamic at play in almost every issue. Demonization of the 'other'. We need reforms like the Fair Representation Act which would bring us closer to the Representational Democracies present in most other developed countries. Eliminates the 'picking the worst of two evils' that so many people feel when going into the voting booth, and may get some people to think that they can pick someone who represents them better. Ranked choice voting, approval voting, scored voting. We can do better.

We are all going to die at some point, so what else is there other than trying to make the World a better place than how we found it? If we don't leave a sustainable, stable backdrop, everything we have worked for, built, and the influence we've had on others will be lost forever.

Abundance not scarcity. There is no shortage of money, resources, intellect, time or courage to do what we need to do. 'Money is a man-made device, and for an entire economy to be perpetually in the position of not being able to do what it wants, simply for lack of bits of paper with numbers on them, is strong evidence that the shortage of those bits of paper and numbers lacks all validity.'- Michael Rowbotham 'The Grip of Death'

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Bernard Johnson (L)

1. Congressional Term limits: House Members serve a maximum of five two-year terms, and Senate Members limited to a maximum of two six-year terms.

2. Advocate for equal rights.

3. Enhance accessibility to mental health services.

4. Evaluate the efficacy of CAFTA-DR: Efforts should be made to renegotiate with the objective of minimizing human trafficking and illegal entry.

5. Reconsider marijuana classification.

6. Government expenditures should be reduced, and the provision of financial aid to corporations should cease.

7. Fostering entrepreneurship: Bills should be introduced to actively support and encourage individual entrepreneurship, while identifying and removing obstacles that hinder small business ownership.

Nathan Lewis (Independent)

*Abundance not scarcity-reform the CBO to focus on inflation rather than arbitrary budget scores

• Who you love-how you identify-you are an equal member of society and our laws should reflect that.
• Term limits-one step to limit political power
• By the same token-limits on wealth-

Jefferson-'the consequences of this enormous inequality producing so much misery to the bulk of mankind, legislators cannot invent too many devices for subdividing property'

• Encourage direct democracy through citizen led ballot initiatives and workplace democracy through employee owned businesses and nonprofit formation
• Abundance not scarcity-mental health, drug abuse, homelessness-there is no shortage of resources to mobilize

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

Nathan Lewis (Independent)

'The Deficit Myth' by Stephanie Kelton should be required reading for anyone thinking about public office-especially at the federal level. A good introductory article in a similar vein is 'False choice or real possibilities' by J.D. Alt.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Bernard Johnson (L)

I believe it is important for elected officials to demonstrate humility, integrity, and empathy towards the constituents they serve.

Nathan Lewis (Independent)

Honesty, transparency, integrity, patience, humility, grace, justice.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Nathan Lewis (Independent)

Honesty, transparency, patience.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Bernard Johnson (L)

The primary duty of elected officials is to effectively address and prioritize the needs and concerns of the individuals they represent.

Nathan Lewis (Independent)

I mentioned somewhere else that each representative has a staff of around 20 people. So one of the first responsibilities is to surround yourself with people who will help in a number of essential areas: navigating the federal bureaucracy, holding to Constitutional law, writing and evaluating bills, and outreach to constituents-both in person and through all other channels. Fundraising is not one of those activities, but numerous reports have highlighted how much time most current members from both parties devote to it. I refuse. I will spend my time, and direct staff to spend their time on the above work. We won't meet only with lobbyists and insiders-everyone deserves a response-including people who reach out online through social media. I've considered a 'lottery' system to fill some of the staff positions with 'ordinary' people from the district. Citizens need to be more connected to the work that goes on in Washington. The barriers to entry should not be as high as they are.

What legacy would you like to leave?

Nathan Lewis (Independent)

Leave the World a better place than I found it.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

Bernard Johnson (L)

One of the significant historical events that occurred during my childhood took place when I was in the fourth grade, and it was the Challenger incident.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Bernard Johnson (L)

After graduating from high school, I started my career in the hospitality industry as a busboy at a popular food establishment. Over the course of six years, I steadily progressed through various roles, transitioning from busboy to kitchen staff, server, bartender, and eventually to a position where I trained managers.

Nathan Lewis (Independent)

Probably fixing fence during the summer for my Dad in high school.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Bernard Johnson (L)

The Bible is a significant piece of literature that chronicles humanity's relationship with the Divine throughout history, making it my favorite book.

Nathan Lewis (Independent)

I mentioned 'The Deficit Myth' by Stephanie Kelton as being important for my political philosophy. Alasdair MacIntyre's works- 'After Virtue', 'Whose Justice? Which Rationality?', 'Three Rival Versions of Moral Inquiry' and 'Dependent Rational Animals' have helped make up my moral philosophy. Perhaps the easiest to read and the most to the point, 'Dependent Rational Animals' shows that we are all dependent on others- especially when young or old or infirm, but also every single day. As just one example, almost no one grows all the food they eat. There are thousands of people around the globe responsible for keeping us alive each and every day. With this honest observation comes the recognition that we, in turn, need to provide for others in the same way. It's the basic golden rule explained eloquently and adroitly taking into consideration the rationalizations that people often throw up to avoid this responsibilty. Highly recommended.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Bernard Johnson (L)

To Be a Man by Dax

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Bernard Johnson (L)

Sin is a constant battle for me.

What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution?

Bernard Johnson (L)

The United States House of Representatives is meant to serve as an institution that represents the will of the people by allowing them to make decisions through their elected representatives. However, it is frequently noted that elected officials tend to prioritize loyalty to their political party or personal interests over the needs of their constituents. As a result, it is crucial for voters to meticulously choose, vote for, and endorse candidates who prioritize addressing the concerns of the public to the best of their abilities.

Nathan Lewis (Independent)

Two year terms means that House members should be more accountable than most other public figures. Unfortunately, as most now know, many House members spend an inordinate amount of their time trying to raise money for their campaigns. I intend to spend no time doing that. I have plenty of suggestions of places people could use their money that would be more useful. The House holds the 'Power of the Purse'. If more representatives understood monetary theory better, they wouldn't keep having these ridiculous debt ceiling debates. The federal government can never go bankrupt in it's own currency. No economist would ever say that. I'm tired of these juvenile clashes over nothing of substance.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?

Bernard Johnson (L)

I believe that having prior experience in politics or government is not necessary to be an effective representative. The nation would benefit from individuals with innovative ideas entering public service roles. However, the absence of term limits has led to a situation where long-standing career politicians with outdated ideas remain in office.

Nathan Lewis (Independent)

Possibly, but it's not what I look for first. At a certain point, Hitler and Mussolini had a lot of experience. Virtues and values make a much bigger difference to me. Each representative has a staff up to 20 or more people. Certainly experience is needed for many of those roles to navigate the bureacracy. Certainly staff with experience in Constitutional law, the budget process, farm aid programs, the military industrial complex, HUD, healthcare, EPA, etc... Even experienced politicians need a lot of help. No one can have experience in everything.

What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

Bernard Johnson (L)

I believe that one of the main challenges facing the United States is the potential decline in our workforce's readiness to adapt to rapidly evolving technology. This could lead to a larger portion of our population lacking the necessary skills, potentially resulting in an increased need to outsource jobs to other countries in order to remain competitive.

Nathan Lewis (Independent)

People often don't know what to believe, or sometimes they are way too confident in their assesments. Misinformation is rampant. Confirming one's prior beliefs is easier than taking the time and courage necessary to challenge those beliefs. There is a lack of trust. Sometimes this lack of trust is warranted, other times it's easily preventable.

One simple way that I hope to inspire trust I've mentioned elsewhere. I am poor by almost anyone's standards, but I am more than willing to take minimum wage or no pay at all. I intend to be fully transparent. This is how I have lived my first 48 years and I don't intend to change.

We need a spiritual reawakening.

'Riches are, from a biblical point of view, an affliction, an almost insuperable obstacle to entering the kingdom of heaven. Capitalism is bad for those who succeed by its standards as well as for those who fail by them, something that many preachers and theologians have failed to recognize. And those Christians who have recognized it have often enough been at odds with ecclesiastical as well as political and economic authorities.'- Alasdair MacIntyre

Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?

Bernard Johnson (L)

A two-year term for representatives enables them to dedicate their focus on addressing the needs and priorities of their constituents. Additionally, in the event of not being re-elected, it provides the former representative with the opportunity to personally witness the impact of the legislation they helped shape.

Nathan Lewis (Independent)

Yes, I think it's fine. Lifetime Supreme Court positions, no.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

Bernard Johnson (L)

House Members should be restrained to a maximum of five two-year terms, and Senate Members should be limited to a maximum of two six-year terms.

Nathan Lewis (Independent)

I signed the Term Limits Pledge to limit House members to three terms and Senate members to two terms. The argument against this, as far as I've seen, is that elected members have experience that would sorely be missed if they only serve a couple terms. My argument against that is- if a Congressperson believes they want to keep working in that arena, there are multiple staff positions that they would be highly qualified for. Use their talents to help new members. Wanting to stay as the elected representative seems more like a power grab and kind of condescending to all the other qualified people.

Is there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Bernard Johnson (L)

As I reflect on the past twenty-five years, I have found it challenging to identify any individuals in positions of leadership whom I would aspire to emulate. The actions witnessed in the realm of politics do not align with my understanding of the principles upheld by the founding fathers of our federal constitutional republic.

Nathan Lewis (Independent)

Not sure there is anyone in totality-everyone has their flaws, but the former chair of the House Budget Committee before Arrington, John Yarmouth, is one of the few politicians to openly recommend a very important book for any elected representative-'The Deficit Myth' by Stephanie Kelton. He was willing to look outside his box and realize some of his flaws in thinking and adjust them accordingly. A very important character trait-especially in elected officials.

Both sitting representatives and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

Bernard Johnson (L)

As a devoted public school educator, I have been inspired by the personal experiences shared by my students and their families, which have motivated me to pursue a position in Congress.

Nathan Lewis (Independent)

Last time I ran I met with a woman who started a daycare center in Stamford, TX. There was an article about her featured in the Washington Post during the pandemic and the difficulties child care providers face-especially child care providers in rural Texas. Texas has low reimbursement rates to start with and the rates are also based on the average costs of daycare in the region. Most of the parents in rural areas can't afford much, so the average rates in the area are lower than other places, so the reimbursements stay low. In addition, parents often have to travel farther distances and deal with low wage jobs that are often don't accommodate their needs. Regardless, she was an inspiration for performing a critical role despite many trials. I came away truly impressed by her resilience and even more upset at our elected leaders and their callous disregard.

Tell us your favorite joke.

Bernard Johnson (L)

I'm from the Government and I'm here to help.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Bernard Johnson (L)

Effective negotiation and collaboration are critical skills when engaging in the policy development process. In 2023, I traveled to Austin to advocate for a bill that proposed granting temporary teaching certificates to former instructors at the Community College of the Air Force. Despite the bill being sponsored by a member of the Democratic party, I acknowledged the potential benefits it could provide to military personnel transitioning to civilian life and communities in Texas.

I actively engaged with both my State Representative and State Senator, holding meetings with their staff to discuss the advantages of the bill for their respective districts. With the endorsement of a key Republican member of the Texas Senate, the bill successfully navigated through both chambers of congress and was ultimately enacted into law by the governor.

This experience underscores the significance of bipartisan collaboration in achieving favorable outcomes for constituents. By transcending party lines as a Libertarian and advocating for a bill introduced by an opposing party, I was able to secure its success and underscore the importance of teamwork in the policy-making arena.

Nathan Lewis (Independent)

'Compromise' has different meanings for different people. Most would probably agree that compromise on some things is wise, while on other subjects it can betray your virtue. So sometimes yes, sometimes no. So yes, I would sit down in a room and talk with people that I otherwise didn't have a lot of respect for if I thought there was reason to believe that so doing could lead to better outcomes in the long run.

The Constitution says that all bills for raising revenue must originate in the House. What role would this power play in your priorities if elected?

Bernard Johnson (L)

Instead of focusing on extracting funds from the public to support government initiatives that are not meeting expectations, it is recommended that House members prioritize identifying opportunities to lower taxes. This is the approach that I intend to pursue.

Nathan Lewis (Independent)

The federal govt does not need your money to 'fund' anything. It is the currency issuer. Taxes are used to 'drive the currency', to lessen inequality, as 'sin' taxes, to shore up support for programs like social security ('I paid in, I should get something out') and in certain cases to control inflation. I would push for other lawmakers to understand these basics. If possible, eliminating federal income taxes for anyone making under $100k a year. It's a giant time suck for all involved. Unfortunately the tax preparation industry has a powerful lobby.

How should the U.S. House use its investigative powers?

Bernard Johnson (L)

It is essential that members of the US House of Representatives avoid participating in retaliatory investigations that are often based on party loyalties. These actions are inappropriate uses of taxpayer money and hinder progress.

Nathan Lewis (Independent)

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) needs to stop scoring bills on arbitrary budget implications, but how spending will influence inflation. One of the biggest causes of inflation during the pandemic was price gouging from large corporations, aka 'seller's inflation'. One of the biggest tools Congress has is making sure these public corporations are held fully accountable and complete transparency is crucial. Any and all information on how these global multinationals intend to exploit the provisions of a bill should be fully analyzed. This will require enhanced subpoena powers and enforcement actions. Greed is not a virtue, and we don't need to normalize acceptance of it.

What committees interest you?

Bernard Johnson (L)

I would like to serve on the following committees:

1. Education and the Workforce 2. Foreign Affairs 3. Homeland Security 4. Oversight and Accountability

5. Small Business

Nathan Lewis (Independent)

Our current representative is the Chair of the House Budget Committee. I can't think of too many people less qualified for that position. During the debt limit debacle, Kevin McCarthy reportedly called him incompetent. I would as well, but almost certainly for different reasons. Arrington continually makes ridiculous claims about the country going 'bankrupt', which is impossible for a sovereign currency issuing nation like the US. He either doesn't understand how the monetary system works or is using fear to confuse his own constituents. Either way, totally unqualified. I'd be happy to serve on any committee, but Ethics, Oversight and Accountability, Ways and Means or Energy and Commerce may top the list. I've committed to either taking no salary or minimum wage. Of course, no investments. No one should have to wonder if their Congressperson has money as their master.

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

Bernard Johnson (L)

Government expenditure should be reduced, and the provision of financial aid to corporations should cease in order to demonstrate fiscal responsibility and eliminate corporate welfare. Also, bills should be introduced to actively support and encourage individual entrepreneurship, while simultaneously identifying and removing obstacles that hinder small business ownership.

Nathan Lewis (Independent)

Anyone who runs for office-especially at the federal level-should be an open book when it comes to their finances. Members should not be able to trade stock-I don't even think they should even be able to own it in trust. These are some of the most powerful positions on Earth. Thinking of personal wealth accumulation should be the furthest thing from anyone's mind. I would go so far to say that members shouldn't even be able to own stock and certain other financial assets after they leave office. It is beyond essential that lawmakers bend over backwards to regain trust. Unfortunately, way too many seem to think greed is more important.

Campaign finance

Name	Party	Receipts*	Disbursements**	Cash on hand	Date
Jodey Arrington	Republican Party	$3,269,201	$2,706,336	$1,884,196	As of December 31, 2024
Bernard Johnson	Libertarian Party	$6,340	$6,406	$-66	As of November 25, 2024
Nathan Lewis	Independent	$0	$0	$0	Data not available***
Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2024. This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC). * According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee." ** According to the FEC, a disbursement "is a purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit or gift of money or anything of value to influence a federal election," plus other kinds of payments not made to influence a federal election. *** Candidate either did not report any receipts or disbursements to the FEC, or Ballotpedia did not find an FEC candidate ID.

General election race ratings

See also: Race rating definitions and methods

Ballotpedia provides race ratings from four outlets: The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and DDHQ/The Hill. Each race rating indicates if one party is perceived to have an advantage in the race and, if so, the degree of advantage:

• Safe and Solid ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge and the race is not competitive.
• Likely ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge, but an upset is possible.
• Lean ratings indicate that one party has a small edge, but the race is competitive.
• Toss-up ratings indicate that neither party has an advantage.

Race ratings are informed by a number of factors, including polling, candidate quality, and election result history in the race's district or state.

Race ratings: Texas' 19th Congressional District election, 2024
Race tracker	Race ratings
	November 5, 2024	October 29, 2024	October 22, 2024	October 15, 2024
The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter	Solid Republican	Solid Republican	Solid Republican	Solid Republican
Decision Desk HQ and The Hill	Safe Republican	Safe Republican	Safe Republican	Safe Republican
Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales	Solid Republican	Solid Republican	Solid Republican	Solid Republican
Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball	Safe Republican	Safe Republican	Safe Republican	Safe Republican
Note: Ballotpedia reviews external race ratings every week throughout the election season and posts weekly updates even if the media outlets have not revised their ratings during that week.

Ballot access

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in Texas in the 2024 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Texas, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2024
State	Office	Party	Signatures required	Filing fee	Filing deadline	Source
Texas	U.S. House	Democratic or Republican	2% of votes cast for governor in the district in the last election, or 500, whichever is less	$3,125.00	12/11/2023	Source
Texas	U.S. House	Unaffiliated	5% of all votes cast for governor in the district in the last election, or 500, whichever is less	N/A	12/11/2023	Source

District analysis

Click the tabs below to view information about voter composition, past elections, and demographics in both the district and the state.

• District map - A map of the district in place for the election.
• Competitiveness - Information about the competitiveness of 2024 U.S. House elections in the state.
• Presidential elections - Information about presidential elections in the district and the state.
• State party control - The partisan makeup of the state's congressional delegation and state government.

• District map
• Competitiveness
• Presidential elections
• State party control

Below was the map in use at the time of the election. Click the map below to enlarge it.

See also: Primary election competitiveness in state and federal government, 2024

This section contains data on U.S. House primary election competitiveness in Texas.

Texas U.S. House competitiveness, 2014-2024
Year	Districts/ offices	Seats	Open seats	Candidates	Possible primaries	Contested Democratic primaries	Contested Republican primaries	% of contested primaries	Incumbents in contested primaries	% of incumbents in contested primaries
2024	38	38	3	160	76	16	23	51.3%	19	54.3%
2022	38	38	6	222	76	17	27	57.9%	19	59.4%
2020	36	36	6	231	72	24	26	69.4%	18	60.0%
2018	36	36	8	212	72	25	21	63.9%	15	53.6%
2016	36	36	2	127	72	13	20	45.8%	19	55.9%
2014	36	36	1	100	72	6	13	26.4%	12	34.3%

Post-filing deadline analysis

The following analysis covers all U.S. House districts up for election in Texas in 2024. Information below was calculated on 1/29/2024, and may differ from information shown in the table above due to candidate replacements and withdrawals after that time.

In 2024, 164 candidates filed to run for Texas’ 38 U.S. House districts, including 63 Democrats and 101 Republicans. That was 4.3 candidates per district, the lowest number since 2016, when 3.5 candidates ran.

In 2022, the first election after the number of congressional districts in Texas increased from 36 to 38, 5.8 candidates ran per district. In 2020, 6.4 candidates ran, and 5.8 candidates ran in 2018.

The 164 candidates who ran in 2024 were also the fewest total number to run since 2016, when 127 candidates ran. One hundred candidates ran for Texas’ then-36 districts in 2014, the fewest in the decade, while 231 ran in 2020, the decade-high.

Three seats were open. That was the fewest since 2016, when two seats were open. Six seats were open in 2022 and 2020, and eight were in 2018—the decade-high.

Reps. Kay Granger (R-12th) and Michael Burgess (R-26th) retired from public office. Rep. Colin Allred (D-32nd) didn't seek re-election in order to run for the U.S. Senate. Fourteen candidates—10 Democrats and 4 Republicans—ran for the open 32nd district, the most candidates who ran for a seat in 2024.

Thirty-nine primaries—16 Democratic and 23 Republican—were contested this year. That was the fewest since 2016, when 33 were contested. There were 44 contested primaries in 2022, 50 in 2020, and 46 in 2018.

Nineteen incumbents—six Democrats and thirteen Republicans—faced primary challengers this year. That was the same number as 2022, and one more than in 2020.

Three districts—the 9th, the 20th, and the 30th—were guaranteed to Democrats because no Republicans filed to run. Five were guaranteed to Republicans because no Democrats filed to run—the 1st, the 11th, the 13th, the 19th, and the 25th.

Partisan Voter Index

See also: The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index

Heading into the 2024 elections, based on results from the 2020 and 2016 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was R+26. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 26 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made Texas' 19th the 10th most Republican district nationally.

2020 presidential election results

The table below shows what the vote in the 2020 presidential election would have been in this district. The presidential election data was compiled by Daily Kos.

2020 presidential results in Texas' 19th based on 2024 district lines
Joe Biden	Donald Trump
26.2%	72.4%

Inside Elections Baselines

See also: Inside Elections

Inside Elections' Baseline is a figure that analyzes all federal and statewide election results from the district over the past four election cycles. The results are combined in an index estimating the strength of a typical Democratic or Republican candidate in the congressional district. The table below displays the Baseline data for this district.

Inside Elections Baseline for 2024
Democratic Baseline	Republican Baseline	Difference
23.5	74.3	D+50.8

Presidential voting history

See also: Presidential election in Texas, 2020

Texas presidential election results (1900-2020)

• 16 Democratic wins
• 15 Republican wins

Year	1900	1904	1908	1912	1916	1920	1924	1928	1932	1936	1940	1944	1948	1952	1956	1960	1964	1968	1972	1976	1980	1984	1988	1992	1996	2000	2004	2008	2012	2016	2020
Winning Party	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	R	D	D	D	D	D	R	R	D	D	D	R	D	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R

See also: Party control of Texas state government

Congressional delegation

The table below displays the partisan composition of Texas' congressional delegation as of May 2024.

Congressional Partisan Breakdown from Texas
Party	U.S. Senate	U.S. House	Total
Democratic	0	12	12
Republican	2	25	27
Independent	0	0	0
Vacancies	0	1	1
Total	2	38	40

State executive

The table below displays the officeholders in Texas' top four state executive offices as of May 2024.

State executive officials in Texas, May 2024
Office	Officeholder
Governor	Greg Abbott
Lieutenant Governor	Dan Patrick
Secretary of State	Jane Nelson
Attorney General	Ken Paxton

State legislature

Texas State Senate

Party		As of February 2024
	Democratic Party	11
	Republican Party	19
	Other	0
	Vacancies	1
Total		31

Texas House of Representatives

Party		As of February 2024
	Democratic Party	64
	Republican Party	86
	Other	0
	Vacancies	0
Total		150

Trifecta control

The table below shows the state's trifecta status from 1992 until the 2024 election.

Texas Party Control: 1992-2024
Three years of Democratic trifectas  •  Twenty-two years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year	92	93	94	95	96	97	98	99	00	01	02	03	04	05	06	07	08	09	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24
Governor	D	D	D	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R
Senate	D	D	D	D	D	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R
House	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R

District history

The section below details election results for this office in elections dating back to 2018.

2022

See also: Texas' 19th Congressional District election, 2022

General election

General election for U.S. House Texas District 19

Incumbent Jodey Arrington defeated Nathan Lewis in the general election for U.S. House Texas District 19 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jodey Arrington (R)	80.3	152,321
		Nathan Lewis (Independent)	19.7	37,360

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 189,681
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Jay Ford (Independent)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 19

Incumbent Jodey Arrington advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 19 on March 1, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jodey Arrington	100.0	68,503

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 68,503
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2020

See also: Texas' 19th Congressional District election, 2020

General election

General election for U.S. House Texas District 19

Incumbent Jodey Arrington defeated Tom Watson and Joe Burnes in the general election for U.S. House Texas District 19 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jodey Arrington (R)	74.8	198,198
		Tom Watson (D)	22.9	60,583
		Joe Burnes (L)	2.4	6,271

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 265,052
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 19

Tom Watson advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 19 on March 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Tom Watson	100.0	19,993

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 19,993
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 19

Incumbent Jodey Arrington defeated Vance Boyd in the Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 19 on March 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jodey Arrington	89.4	71,234
		Vance Boyd	10.6	8,410

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 79,644
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Kezia Tunnell (R)

Libertarian convention

Libertarian convention for U.S. House Texas District 19

Joe Burnes advanced from the Libertarian convention for U.S. House Texas District 19 on March 21, 2020.

		Candidate
✔		Joe Burnes (L)

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2018

See also: Texas' 19th Congressional District election, 2018

General election

General election for U.S. House Texas District 19

Incumbent Jodey Arrington defeated Miguel Levario in the general election for U.S. House Texas District 19 on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jodey Arrington (R)	75.2	151,946
		Miguel Levario (D)	24.8	50,039

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 201,985
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 19

Miguel Levario advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 19 on March 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Miguel Levario	100.0	9,648

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 9,648
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 19

Incumbent Jodey Arrington advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 19 on March 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jodey Arrington	100.0	55,433

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 55,433
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

See also

Texas	2024 primaries	2024 U.S. Congress elections
Texas congressional delegation Voting in Texas Texas elections: 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018	Democratic primary battlegrounds Republican primary battlegrounds U.S. Senate Democratic primaries U.S. Senate Republican primaries U.S. House Democratic primaries U.S. House Republican primaries	U.S. Congress elections U.S. Senate elections U.S. House elections Special elections Ballot access

External links

• Search Google News for this topic

Footnotes

[show]

Texas' current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

John Cornyn (R)

Ted Cruz (R)

Representatives

District 1

Nathaniel Moran (R)

District 2

Daniel Crenshaw (R)

District 3

Keith Self (R)

District 4

Pat Fallon (R)

District 5

Lance Gooden (R)

District 6

Jake Ellzey (R)

District 7

Lizzie Fletcher (D)

District 8

Morgan Luttrell (R)

District 9

Al Green (D)

District 10

Michael McCaul (R)

District 11

August Pfluger (R)

District 12

Craig Goldman (R)

District 13

Ronny Jackson (R)

District 14

Randy Weber (R)

District 15

Monica De La Cruz (R)

District 16

Veronica Escobar (D)

District 17

Pete Sessions (R)

District 18

Vacant

District 19

Jodey Arrington (R)

District 20

Joaquin Castro (D)

District 21

Chip Roy (R)

District 22

Troy Nehls (R)

District 23

Tony Gonzales (R)

District 24

Beth Van Duyne (R)

District 25

Roger Williams (R)

District 26

Brandon Gill (R)

District 27

Michael Cloud (R)

District 28

Henry Cuellar (D)

District 29

Sylvia Garcia (D)

District 30

Jasmine Crockett (D)

District 31

John Carter (R)

District 32

Julie Johnson (D)

District 33

Marc Veasey (D)

District 34

Vicente Gonzalez (D)

District 35

Greg Casar (D)

District 36

Brian Babin (R)

District 37

Lloyd Doggett (D)

District 38

Wesley Hunt (R)

Republican Party (27)

Democratic Party (12)

Vacancies (1)

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