Fat Matt Smith Announces Campaign for Texas’s 19th District

If you were planning to spend the Big 12 Championship yelling at the TV like a normal West Texan, brace yourself: you’re also about to meet a man named Fat Matt Smith, who wants to represent TX-19 in Congress and is kicking off his campaign by jumping straight into your commercial breaks.

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It’s a guaranteed way to make Lubbock people pay attention, because if there’s one thing we won’t skip, it’s a Big 12 game or something roofing-related.

Smith--Abilene businessman, rancher, minister, and founder of Fat Matt Roofing--announced he’s officially running for Congress. And just like every good West Texan starting a new project, he’s going big, loud, and in front of everyone. If he could’ve announced his candidacy from the top of a grain silo off Highway 84 with a bullhorn, I’m sure he would’ve.

Roofing, Ranching, Ministry… and Now Congress?

Matt Smith’s résumé reads like someone filled out a West Texas bingo card. Construction? Check. Oilfield work? Check. Ranching? Check. Ministry? Check. Roofing company with a name that makes people smile every single time they drive past a billboard? Big check.

READ MORE: Lubbock's Jason Corley Announces His Congressional Run

And that’s the angle Smith leans into: faith, family, and hard work.

He’s running on things folks around here talk about--securing the border, supporting law enforcement, protecting parents’ rights, unleashing American energy, and reminding Washington what a budget actually is.

Also, he and his wife have five kids, which means he’s already more qualified than most politicians to handle chaos.

What This Means for Lubbock (Besides More Commercials)

Smith says he wants to bring “biblical wisdom” to Washington--which, considering the state of Washington, might be overdue. He also says he wants “adults back in the room”.

READ MORE: Lubbock Author Earns National Recognition for Powerful Military Memoir

But here’s the real takeaway for Lubbock:

Campaign season is officially here, which means signs, ads, debates, barbecue appearances, awkward handshakes, and at least one candidate trying to pet a horse that absolutely does not want to be pet.