Former MLB first baseman Mark Teixeira is projected to win Texas' 21st Congressional District, according to Decision Desk HQ, keeping the seat in Republican hands after Rep. Chip Roy vacated it to run for state attorney general. Teixeira defeated Democratic challenger Kristin Hook, with DDHQ showing him leading by 7 points with 86% of votes counted as of late Tuesday night.
The Cook Political Report had rated the race as solid Republican since February, and DDHQ's probability model consistently gave Teixeira a greater than 90% chance of victory since early June. The former New York Yankees star's win was never in serious doubt, reflecting the district's conservative lean.
Roy, who has represented the district since 2019, opted not to seek reelection and instead mounted a bid for Texas attorney general. However, he lost the GOP primary to Mayes Middleton in the spring, ending his congressional tenure. Teixeira's victory ensures the seat remains under Republican control.
Teixeira's campaign drew strong backing from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and former President Trump, both of whom endorsed him. Trump, in a February endorsement on Truth Social, praised Teixeira as a "TOTAL WINNER" and said, "I know Mark well, and he is a TOTAL WINNER, on and off the field! ... HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!"
The former slugger also aligned himself with Trump's hardline immigration agenda. In January, after ICE officers fatally shot Minneapolis resident Renee Good, Teixeira wrote on X that he stands with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a stance that resonated with the district's conservative base.
Beyond politics, Teixeira has expressed enthusiasm about a unique perk of serving in Congress: playing in the annual Congressional Baseball Game. In a June interview with The Hill, he said, "I'm definitely going to use this as an opportunity ... you have 435 members in the House and another 100 senators, so you're just not going to get a lot of one-on-one time. This is an opportunity to be in a team situation, have fun, get to know guys and hopefully beat the Democrats."
Teixeira's baseball career spanned 14 seasons with the Texas Rangers, Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, and New York Yankees, where he won a World Series in 2009. His transition from the diamond to the Capitol is part of a broader trend of athletes entering politics, though his victory follows the pattern of Barry Moore winning Alabama's Senate seat in a similarly safe Republican contest.
In other races, Democrats have seen successes elsewhere, such as McAdams flipping Utah's 1st District and Mendoza flipping Arizona's 6th, but Texas' 21st remains solidly red. Teixeira's win adds to a mixed night for both parties, with Republicans holding on in this seat while Democrats notch gains in other states.
Teixeira's focus now shifts to his new role representing a district that spans the Hill Country and parts of San Antonio's suburbs. He has pledged to prioritize border security and economic issues, aligning with the GOP's agenda in the new Congress.
