Former MLB player Mark Teixeira leads crowded GOP primary for Texas congressional seat

Teixeira is pumping millions of his own money into the campaign and has secured key endorsements, including from former President Trump.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Former Major League Baseball player Mark Teixeira is the heavy favorite in the crowded Republican primary race to replace outgoing Rep. Chip Roy in Texas' 21st Congressional District. Teixeira, a former Texas Rangers and New York Yankees first baseman, has raised more cash than any other candidate, loaning $2.5 million of his own money to his campaign and pulling in another $545,000 from donors. He is also endorsed by high-profile Republicans like former President Donald Trump and Gov. Greg Abbott.

Why it matters

The 21st Congressional District, which includes parts of San Antonio and several conservative Hill Country counties, would have gone for Trump by nearly 22 points in 2024 under its new boundaries. This means the Republican primary will likely decide the next representative, making Teixeira's frontrunner status significant.

The details

Teixeira's rivals have painted him as a carpetbagger, questioning the authenticity of his conservative credentials. However, Teixeira has positioned himself as a staunch conservative, aligning with the Trump administration on issues like border security, government spending cuts, and gun rights. While Teixeira is currently the frontrunner, several other candidates with political experience, such as Trey Trainor, a former chair of the Federal Election Commission, and Mike Wheeler, the former Kendall County GOP chairman, have a shot at competing against him if the race goes to a runoff.

  • Teixeira launched his campaign about a month before Trainor announced his bid for the seat.
  • The Republican primary is scheduled for March 3, 2026.

The players

Mark Teixeira

A former Major League Baseball player who is the heavy favorite in the crowded Republican primary race to replace outgoing Rep. Chip Roy in Texas' 21st Congressional District.

Chip Roy

The current representative of Texas' 21st Congressional District, who is running for Texas attorney general this year, leaving the seat open.

Greg Abbott

The governor of Texas, who has endorsed Teixeira's campaign.

Trey Trainor

A former chair of the Federal Election Commission and prominent GOP lawyer, who is one of the candidates competing against Teixeira in the primary.

Mike Wheeler

The former Kendall County GOP chairman, who is another candidate with political experience competing in the primary.

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What they’re saying

“It seems like it's a slam dunk that he'll end up winning the Republican nomination.”

— Jon Taylor, Political science and geography department chair at the University of Texas at San Antonio (mysanantonio.com)

“It's going to be a race where we're going to see Teixeira finish well ahead of the pack, and then it'll be whichever of those other candidates is able to do well in the home stretch.”

— Mark Jones, Political science professor at Rice University (mysanantonio.com)

What’s next

The Republican primary is scheduled for March 3, 2026. If no candidate receives a majority of the votes, the race will go to a runoff.

The takeaway

Teixeira's ability to self-fund his campaign and secure high-profile endorsements from prominent Republicans like Trump and Abbott make him the clear frontrunner in the crowded GOP primary. However, the large field of candidates means the race could still go to a runoff, leaving the door open for other candidates with political experience to potentially challenge Teixeira.