Republican Mark Teixeira secured 55 percent of the vote to defeat Democrat Kristin Hook in the November 3, 2026, election for Texas’ 21st Congressional District, capturing an open seat previously held by Chip Roy, according to Yahoo.
Teixeira Wins District 21
Mark Teixeira traded his bat for a ballot, moving from a 14-year Major League Baseball career to a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, according to Defector.
The switch hitter played 1,862 games over 14 seasons, finishing with a career batting average of 0.268, an on-base percentage of 0.509, 1,862 hits, 409 home runs, and 1,298 RBIs, according to Maeil Business Newspaper. Along the way, the five-time Gold Glove winner, three-time All-Star, three-time Silver Slugger, and 2009 World Series champion with the New York Yankees picked up endorsements from President Donald Trump and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, as KSAT reported.
The congressional race opened up when Republican Chip Roy decided against seeking re-election to run for Texas attorney general instead, a primary runoff bid he ultimately lost to state Sen. Mayes Middleton, as noted by Fox4news. Teixeira entered the political arena by winning a crowded 12-candidate Republican primary in March with over 60 percent of the vote, collecting 58,180 ballots ahead of runner-up Jason Cahill and Trey Trainor, according to WOAI. His campaign manager noted that Teixeira won a crowded 12-candidate primary with over 60 percent of the vote,
as detailed by Defector.
Teixeira Defeats Hook
In the general election, Teixeira faced biological scientist Kristin Hook, who previously collected 36.1 percent of the vote against Roy, according to Yahoo. Hook ran on a platform opposing corporate interference in politics and protecting natural resources like water, while sharply diverging from Trump on immigration, as KUT reported.
Thank you to my family, friends, campaign staff, and the countless supporters who stood with us during this campaign. We could not have won this race without every person who knocked on doors, worked the polls, hosted events, and pitched in to help the cause. I am truly grateful… pic.twitter.com/64fcE7z3DJ
The district covers Alamo Heights, Terrell Hills, northern San Antonio, portions of Austin’s suburbs, and several Hill Country counties including Bandera, Blanco, Comal, Gillespie, Kendall, Kerr, and Real, along with parts of Hays and Bexar counties, according to KSAT and Yahoo. State data indicates the region’s roughly 767,000 residents are 54 percent white, 34 percent Hispanic, and 5.3 percent Black, with 60.2 percent voting for Trump in 2024, Yahoo noted.
Texas’ 21st Congressional District has maintained its conservative lean for decades, having not sent a Democrat to Congress since Bob Krueger in 1975, according to Yahoo and KUT. Teixeira campaigned on cutting government spending, pushing for term limits, lowering healthcare costs, and defending parental rights,
according to Yahoo. Following his victory, Teixeira wrote on X that he aimed to end the infusion of radical liberal ideas,
as cited by Maeil Business Newspaper.
Teixeira Faces Wealth Disclosures
Beyond baseball and politics, Teixeira’s financial portfolio has drawn scrutiny regarding potential conflicts of interest. The Defector report cited estimates from the Texas Tribune placing his net worth between $48 million and $331 million.
Teixeira’s campaign told the Texas Tribune that he and his financial advisers are working on identifying structures, including a potential qualified blind trust, to remove financial conflicts of interest while in office, with the goal to not have to buy or sell individual stocks in Congress,
according to Defector.