Former MLB All-Star Mark Teixeira announces run for Congress

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — After playing in ‘The House that Ruth Built,’ former MLB All-Star Mark Teixeira is aiming for a spot in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“I’m ready to go,” Teixeira said in a campaign announcement on Thursday morning. “As a lifelong conservative who loves this country, I’m running for Congress to fight for the principles that make Texas and America great. It takes teamwork to win – I’m ready to help defend President Trump’s America First agenda, Texas families, and individual liberty.”

Born in Maryland, Teixeira started his 14-year MLB career as a Texas Ranger before playing for the Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Angels and New York Yankees. During his career, Teixeira won five Gold Glove award and three Silver Slugger awards at first base.

“After retiring from baseball, Teixeira and his wife, Leigh, returned to Texas to raise their children, pursue new business opportunities, and continue their charitable outreach supporting education and Christian ministries,” Teixeira’s press release said. “Since moving back in 2021, Teixeira has championed conservative causes, including supporting Governor Greg Abbott and volunteering with the Texas Public Policy Foundation.”

Teixeira is running in Congressional District 21 after incumbent Rep. Chip Roy announced his entry into the Texas Attorney General race. Under the proposed new congressional map Gov. Greg Abbott is expected to sign into law, the district is primarily located in the Hill Country, consisting of Kerr, Real, Bandera, Gillespie, Kendall and Blanco counties, along with parts of Hays, Comal and Bexar counties. According to his candidate filing, Teixeira lives in Dripping Springs.

“Texas is the land of fierce independence, relentless optimism, and limitless opportunity. That unique spirit thrives in the Hill Country and throughout Congressional District 21 — from Kerrville to New Braunfels, from Leakey to Bandera, and everywhere in between,” Teixeira said.

According to his campaign announcement, Teixeira supports many of the mainline conservative stances, specifically “to secure the border, grow the economy, end radical woke indoctrination, promote American energy independence, defend life and the Second Amendment, end forever wars, and strengthen the military.”