World Series champion Mark Teixeira wins Texas House seat as Michele Tafoya loses Senate bid

Mark Teixeira defeated Democrat Kristin Hook to win the US House seat for Texas’s 21st Congressional District in Tuesday’s midterm elections, with returns on Wednesday morning showing him leading with 54.5% of the vote after 99% of ballots had been counted.

The seat has been held by Republicans since 1979 and was previously occupied by Chip Roy, who did not seek reelection; the district covers deeply conservative areas around Austin and San Antonio and Teixeira’s victory had been expected.

Teixeira posted a statement on X following the result, writing: “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. 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. God bless Texas, and God bless America.” Donald Trump and Texas governor Greg Abbott endorsed Teixeira’s campaign; Abbott lost his reelection contest to Democrat Gina Hinojosa, and Republicans suffered sweeping losses across the US in a repudiation of Trump’s second term in power.

Teixeira’s campaign website sets out goals in quoted language that include “end radical woke indoctrination, defend parental rights, kill DEI, restore patriotic education rooted in American and Texas values … and fight against Cultural Marxism.” He is 46, was born and raised in Maryland, and attended Georgia Tech.

A first-round draft pick by the Rangers in 2001, Teixeira played for Texas from 2003-07, the Atlanta Braves in 2007-08, the Los Angeles Angels in 2008 and the New York Yankees from 2009-16; he was selected an All-Star in 2005, 2009 and 2015 and helped the Yankees win the 2009 World Series.

In Minnesota, former NFL sideline reporter Michele Tafoya, running as a Republican, lost her bid for the US Senate to Peggy Flanagan, the state’s Democratic lieutenant governor. Tafoya did not actively seek out support from Trump, broke ranks with Republicans over the war with Iran, and portrayed herself as pro choice while not clarifying her exact stance on access to abortion; Minnesota has not elected a Republican to the US Senate since 2002, and Flanagan is the first Native American woman to be elected to the upper chamber.

In Alabama, Republican Tommy Tuberville won the race to become governor; the 72-year-old formerly coached Auburn, one of the most popular college teams in Alabama.