Former Major League Baseball first baseman Mark Teixeira is projected to win Texas's 21st Congressional District, according to preliminary results from Decision Desk HQ (DDHQ), securing the seat vacated by Republican Rep. Chip Roy. Teixeira, who played for the Texas Rangers, Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Angels, and New York Yankees, defeated Democratic challenger Kristin Hook in a race that the Cook Political Report had rated as solid Republican since February.
With 86% of votes counted as of 11:06 p.m. EST, DDHQ projected Teixeira leading Hook by 7 percentage points. The former MLB star's victory was widely anticipated, with DDHQ consistently giving him a win probability above 90% since early June.
Roy, who chose not to seek re-election and instead ran for Texas attorney general, lost in the GOP primary to Mayes Middleton in the spring. The open seat in the strongly Republican district drew attention, but Teixeira's name recognition and endorsements from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and former President Trump solidified his path to Congress.
Teixeira has aligned himself with Trump's immigration agenda, writing on social platform X that he stands with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after an incident in January where ICE officers fatally shot Minneapolis resident Renee Good. Trump, in his February endorsement, praised Teixeira as a "TOTAL WINNER," saying, "I know Mark well, and he is a TOTAL WINNER, on and off the field! ... HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!"
Teixeira's transition from baseball to politics has been closely watched, especially given his previous comments to The Hill about using his congressional tenure to get back on the diamond. "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," he said in June, referring to the annual Congressional Baseball Game. "This is an opportunity to be in a team situation, have fun, get to know guys and hopefully beat the Democrats."
Teixeira's victory adds to a series of competitive House races across the country, including Mendoza flipping Arizona's 6th District and Little keeping Minnesota's 2nd District blue.
The former Yankee, who won a World Series in 2009, will now bring his competitive spirit to Capitol Hill, where he is expected to focus on conservative priorities, including border security and tax policy. His victory ensures the GOP retains a seat that has been in Republican hands for years, and it comes amid broader political shifts in Texas, where Abbott conceded the governor's race to Democrat Hinojosa in a historic upset.
Teixeira's win is a bright spot for Republicans in a cycle where Democrats have made gains in other races, such as Crowley winning the Wisconsin governor's race. With his celebrity status and political backing, Teixeira is poised to become a notable freshman voice in the House.
