Carl Isett - 2003 Congressional Bid

2003 Congressional Bid

In 2003, Isett ran in a special election for the United States House of Representatives from District 19. The opening developed when longtime Republican U.S. Representative Larry Combest of Lubbock suddenly retired. Isett, who carried the backing of Right to Life, polled some 19 percent of the vote, nearly enough to garner a runoff berth. The position ultimately went to his fellow Lubbock Republican Randy Neugebauer, also a conservative, who still holds the seat.

Texas Tech chancellor Kent Hance held this congressional seat as a Democrat from 1979 to 1985, but he vacated it in an unsuccessful bid in 1984 for the United States Senate. Thereafter, Hance switched parties, served briefly on the Texas Railroad Commission, and made unsuccessful bids for the Republican gubernatorial nomination in 1986 and 1990.