The invention relates generally to welding and, more specifically, to welding wires for arc welding, such as Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) or Flux Core Arc Welding (FACW). In one embodiment, a tubular welding wire includes a sheath and a core, and the core comprises a rare earth silicide component (cerium, lanthanum, or a combination thereof). The core may also comprise an organic stabilizer component, a carbon component, and an agglomerate. The organic stabilizer component may comprise an organic molecule or organic polymer bound to one or more Group I or Group II metals. The carbon component may comprise graphite, graphene, carbon black, lamp black, carbon nanotubes, diamond, or a combination thereof. The agglomerate may comprise oxides of one or more Group I or Group II metals, titanium, and manganese.