Tom Sell, a longtime agriculture policy expert, businessman and former Congressional staffer, is joining the now-open Republican primary race for the West Texas-based U.S. House District 19 seat.

Sell launched his candidacy on Thursday - two days after U.S. Rep. Jodey Arrington announced he would not seek a sixth term in the district that includes Lubbock and Abilene.

Sell worked as a staffer for former U.S. House Rep. Larry Combest, a Lubbock Republican, in the early 2000s. He served as deputy chief of staff for the U.S. House Agriculture Committee and played a role in crafting the 2002 farm bill, according to Avalanche-Journal archives.

Sell is also a co-founder of the Combest, Sell & Associates agriculture lobbying firm.

In a news release, Sell's campaign describes him as a conser

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