July 17, 2014 4:22 PM

Former Texas Tech Vice Chancellor sets his sights on Duncan's Senate seat - With extended audio interview

Jodey Arrington has an impressive warchest; argues that conservatives must articulate what they are for not just what they’re against

The special election to fill the Texas Senate seat just vacated by former Sen. Robert Duncan, R-Lubbock, will be an expensive one that may last into next year and could easily come down to the wire.

Resources and fundraising will be especially critical in communicating a winning message across the region – Senate District 28 includes 50 full counties and a portion of a 51st county – and the fact that this contest will likely include a crowded field means it probably won’t’ be settled without a runoff. The victor, then, would not be a senator until the 2015 regular session of The Legislature is already underway.

The election has not been set as of now by Gov. Perry but the likely date is Nov. 4.

The two most talked about candidates are Rep. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, who threw his hat in the ring as soon as it became known Duncan was stepping aside to become Texas Tech System Chancellor, and former Texas Tech Vice Chancellor Jodey Arrington. Perry, of course, is a known quantity around the Capitol but Arrington is a novice at running for office so we thought it would be informative to introduce him to the Quorum Report audience.

By Scott Braddock