Republican former Major League Baseball (MLB) star Mark Teixeira won the U.S. House seat in Texas’ 21st Congressional District, defeating Democrat Kristin Hook with 55% of the vote to her 45%, according to the Associated Press. Teixeira’s victory marks a closer race than the 2024 contest, where Hook lost by a 26-point margin.
The newly elected representative, a three-time MLB All-Star who played for the Texas Rangers and New York Yankees, secured the seat previously held by Republican Rep. Chip Roy, who did not seek re-election. Teixeira received 54.52% of the vote compared to Hook’s 45.48%, with 99% of votes counted.
In a statement posted on X, Teixeira said, “Tonight’s victory belongs to the people of Texas’s 21st District. I’m not going to Washington for myself, but rather to be a strong, responsive voice for every family in this district.” He added, “Together, we can build a better future for our families, our neighbors, and every community across Texas 21. I’m excited to get to work. I will be praying for all of you and for the future of this great nation.”
Teixeira thanked his family, friends, campaign staff, and supporters in his remarks, emphasizing his commitment to earning the trust of voters. “Nobody will work harder to continue earning that trust,” he stated.
Background and Context
Teixeira, a World Series champion with the New York Yankees in 2009, retired from baseball in 2016 after a 14-year career during which he hit 409 home runs. He announced his candidacy for the 21st District in 2023, positioning himself as a conservative advocate. In March 2024, he won the Republican primary with more than 61% of the vote.
Hook, a biological scientist who previously advised Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren and worked at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), ran as a Democrat in the district. The 21st District, which includes parts of San Antonio and Austin, was redrawn during Texas’ mid-decade redistricting. In the 2024 presidential election, former President Donald Trump carried the district by 22 percentage points, according to the nonpartisan Dave’s Redistricting App.
Comparisons to Other Athlete-Turned-Politicians
Teixeira’s victory follows the election of another former professional athlete, Democratic Rep. Colin Allred, who won re-election in Texas’ 33rd District with nearly 80% of the vote. Allred, a former NFL linebacker, served three terms in Congress before an unsuccessful 2024 Senate bid. In an August Substack essay, he outlined values from his NFL career—such as humility and teamwork—that he said guide his work in Congress.