Lubbock Needs More Presidential Visits, and Here’s Why

Having lived in Lubbock for nearly a decade, I see so much value everywhere I look. Whether it's the Buddy Holly Hall and its slew of globally recognized talent each week or our strong presence in state and national politics (need I remind you that our current Speaker of the House is from Lubbock?), the Hub City has had its finger on the pulse of American livelihood for years.

So, why is Donald Trump only the third-ever U.S. President to visit Lubbock?

Presidents Who Have Visited Lubbock

I'm not saying that Lubbock should be on par with massive cities like NYC or Chicago, I'm just wondering why it takes about 25 years to get a presidential visit each time.

Gerald Ford was the first active U.S. President to come to Lubbock back in 1976 during his campaign, and George H.W. Bush spoke at Texas Tech's commencement in 1999 (after his presidency, but still). Bush technically did make a stop once before in '86, but that was for a speech marking Texas' sesquicentennial.

In 2026, Donald Trump marks the third and most recent active U.S. President to come to Lubbock. The purpose of this visit is to rally support behind Ken Paxton in the race for U.S. Senate between Paxton and Democratic Texas Senator James Talarico.

Lubbock Carries Its Own Weight

I'm not taking these visits for granted, but don't you think we're due for more than once every quarter century?

Lubbock has certainly made a name for itself, boasting a massive list of celebrities who have performed here. From Elvis to Dolly Parton, Liberace to George Strait, there are countless global acts who have graced our little slice of Heaven.

On top of it all, Lubbock is the hometown of one of rock and roll's most influential artists: Buddy Holly.

Moving away from music, did you know that Lubbock is within the top 10 largest Texas cities by population?

Oh, and Texas Tech University is another bragging point for the city. As the No. 9 public university in the entire state, the school has created winners in nearly every department. A great example is Texas Tech's own and Kansas City Chiefs' QB Patrick Mahomes.

My Final Thoughts

So, having mentioned all of these qualities, and trust me, there are so many more, I return to my main point: Lubbock deserves more presidential visits.

Let's keep our proud city in the national spotlight, whether it's sports, music, or politics. We have something here that no other city has, so why not share it with the world!