Yankees Legend Wins GOP Congressional Primary

Former New York Yankees star Mark Teixeira is heading to the general election after cruising to victory in the Republican primary for Texas’ 21st Congressional District.

Teixeira, the former first baseman who helped power the Yankees to a 2009 World Series title, rolled past the field in a dominant showing Tuesday night. He was leading his nearest opponent by a staggering 61.4% to 10.1% margin when The Associated Press called the race.

The win marks a major political debut for the three-time MLB All-Star, who is now positioned as the heavy favorite in November in one of the most reliably Republican districts in Texas.

“This is a huge victory, and I’m truly honored to have such strong support from the people of TX-21. Thank you!” Teixeira wrote on X.

He followed with a second message thanking the coalition that carried him across the finish line.

“I’m so grateful to everyone who voted, put in the work, donated, and especially prayed for us along the way,” he said. “My amazing family has been by my side every step of the way, my wonderful wife Leigh and our three kids,  and I’m blessed by their support as I prepare to serve the country we love.

“We’re going to run a strong race and win big in November, then hit the ground running to fight for Texas families.”

Texas’ 21st District stretches across the Hill Country north of San Antonio and west of Austin, a region known for its strong Republican lean and deep conservative roots. The Cook Political Report rates the seat as solid Republican, making Teixeira the clear favorite to hold it for the GOP in the fall.

He is running to replace Rep. Chip Roy, one of the House’s most outspoken conservatives, who is leaving the seat to run for Texas attorney general. Roy advanced Tuesday night to a runoff in that contest.

Teixeira’s candidacy got a major boost last month when President Donald Trump endorsed him, describing the former slugger as a “TOTAL WINNER, on and off the field.”

It was an honor to visit with President Trump on Friday in Corpus Christi (the Gulf of America). I’m grateful for his “Complete and Total Endorsement!”

Here’s what he said in his endorsement post – thank you, Mr. President!

“In Congress, Mark will work hard to Grow our Economy,… pic.twitter.com/T98vM2ON5I

— Mark Teixeira (@teixeiramark25) March 3, 2026

That backing helped cement Teixeira’s status as the MAGA favorite in the race and gave his campaign a jolt of momentum heading into the final stretch.

When he launched his bid last August, Teixeira made clear he was not running as a moderate or a celebrity placeholder. He promised to “work with President Trump 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.”

It was a platform tailor-made for Republican primary voters in a district that wants fighters, not go-along politicians.

Teixeira played 14 seasons in Major League Baseball and spent eight of them with the Yankees, where he became a fan favorite and won the final championship of his career in 2009. He also played for the Texas Rangers, Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Angels before retiring in 2016.

Download the FREE Trending Politics App to get the latest news FIRST >>