This former Texas Rangers All-Star announced he’s running for Congress
.JPG "Kenny Lofton, left, of the Texas Rangers gives Mark Teixeira a high five after Teixeira’s three-run homer against the Boston Red Sox in a 2007 game in Arlington. Teixeira announced Thursday that he is running for Congress.")
Former Texas Rangers All-Star Mark Teixeira is trading in his baseball glove for campaign gear.
Teixeira is running for Texas’ 21st Congressional District in Central Texas after U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, an Austin Republican, announced he wasn’t seeking reelection to instead run for Texas attorney general. Attorney General Ken Paxton is running for U.S. Senate against incumbent Sen. John Cornyn, an Austin Republican.
Teixeira, a Republican, announced the bid and an accompanying campaign website Thursday in a news release posted on X. He said he’s a lifelong conservative and ready to “fight for the principles that make Texas strong and America exceptional,” in a statement.
“It takes teamwork to win, and I’m ready to help defend President Trump’s America First agenda, Texas families, and individual liberty,” Teixeira said.
Teixeira, a five-time Gold Glove winner, was with the Rangers from 2003 to 2007. He played for the Atlanta Braves and the Los Angeles Angels before spending eight seasons with the New York Yankees, where he won a World Series in 2009.
The Rangers sent Teixeira to the Braves at the 2007 trade deadline. Three of the five minor-leaguers the Rangers received were key contributors to the club’s first World Series appearance in 2010: shortstop Elvis Andrus, pitcher Matt Harrison and relief pitcher Neftali Feliz.
Teixeira lives in Central Texas, according to the news release. He highlighted his Rangers roots in his campaign announcement.
“Playing for the Texas Rangers and raising my family in the Lone Star State has been one of the greatest blessings of my life,” Teixeira said. “Now I’m ready to answer the call to serve my country, my state and the conservative principles that have made Texas the envy of the nation.”
This story was originally published August 28, 2025 at 11:50 AM.
