MLB Legend Wins House Race

Former Major League Baseball player Mark Teixeira won the election for Texas’s 21st Congressional District. The Republican defeated Democrat Kristin Hook in the race for the open seat previously held by Rep. Chip Roy.

With most votes counted, Teixeira led by a margin that Decision Desk HQ projected as a single-digit victory. The district had supported President Donald Trump by roughly 20 points in 2024, making the closer-than-expected result notable amid broader Republican losses.

Teixeira, 46, played 14 seasons in the majors from 2003 to 2016. Drafted fifth overall by the Texas Rangers in 2001, he later appeared for the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Angels before joining the New York Yankees, with whom he won the 2009 World Series. He earned three All-Star selections, five Gold Gloves, and three Silver Sluggers while hitting 409 home runs.

After retirement he worked as an ESPN analyst and in business and real-estate investments. A Georgia Tech graduate, he returned to the Austin area with his family in 2021 and had not previously held elected office. He secured the Republican nomination earlier in the year with more than 60 percent of the primary vote.

The 21st District covers much of the Texas Hill Country, including all of several counties and portions of Bexar and Hays that include northern San Antonio and western Austin suburbs. Roughly 767,000 residents live there. The seat has been in Republican hands for decades, and the Cook Political Report rates it Solid Republican.

Roy opted not to seek reelection and instead ran for Texas attorney general, finishing second in the Republican primary. Teixeira received endorsements from President Trump and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. He pledged during his campaign to work with Trump on border security and related issues.

In a statement after the victory, Teixeira said the result belonged to the people of the district. “I’m not going to Washington for myself, but rather to be a strong, responsive voice for every family in this district,” he wrote. He added that together they could build a better future for families, neighbors, and communities across Texas 21.

The outcome stood out because many other Republican candidates in Texas and nationwide faced defeats. Democrats won the state’s Senate race and the governorship, among other contests. Teixeira’s win provides a Republican hold in a district that has long favored the party.

He had returned his candidate survey to the National Association for Gun Rights with a 100 percent pro-gun rating. The district’s demographics include a majority white population and a substantial Hispanic share. No Democrat has held the seat since the mid-1970s.

Teixeira’s baseball career included stints that produced consistent power and defensive excellence at first base. His transition to politics followed years outside elected office after leaving the game. The House seat opens a new chapter after his playing days and media work.

The race drew attention as one of the few bright spots for Republicans on a night of widespread losses. Preliminary counts showed Teixeira capturing approximately 55 percent of the vote. He is set to take office in January as the district’s representative.