House Budget Committee Chair Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) is being floated as a potential next chancellor of the Texas Tech University System.
Texas Tech Chancellor Tedd Mitchell announced he would step down within the year, although Mitchell added that he’d remain in the role until his successor is named. The regents are meeting today in Lubbock.
Arrington, first elected to the House in 2016, represents West Texas and is a two-time graduate of Texas Tech. He was also the chief of staff and vice chancellor of the school system under former Rep. Kent Hance (R-Texas).
Arrington is chair of the House Budget Committee, which played a critical role in advancing President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill.”
The 53-year-old Arrington didn’t rule out a possible move when asked about the Texas Tech chancellorship.
Here’s Arrington’s statement to Punchbowl News:
“As a proud alum, former Vice Chancellor, and U.S. Representative for West Texas, I’ve routinely provided my thoughts on matters related to Texas Tech.
“You can’t have a prosperous future in West Texas without a thriving Texas Tech University System, and I’m confident Chairman Campbell and the Regents will select the right Chancellor.”
If Arrington were to leave Congress early to take the job, his seat would stay safely in Republicans’ hands. Trump won his Lubbock-anchored district by 51 points in 2024.
But there would certainly be a fight to succeed Arrington as chair of the House Budget Committee. Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) is second in seniority, but he’s running for governor. Rep. Tom McClintock (R-Calif.), who has been in Congress for 16 years, is third on the panel, followed by Reps. Glenn Grothman (R-Wis.) and Lloyd Smucker (R-Pa.). We would expect Smucker to make a run for this gavel should Arrington bow out.
