Former Major League Baseball All-Star and World Series champion Mark Teixeira announced his candidacy for a congressional seat in Texas on Thursday, hoping to succeed the retiring Republican Rep. Chip Roy.
In his announcement, Teixeira touted his Republican bona fides and sought to portray himself as a loyalist to President Donald Trump.
“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 in a press release. “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.”
Teixeira, a switch-hitter who played 14 seasons and had his longest stints with the Texas Rangers and the New York Yankees, retired in 2016. The slugger posted a .268 career batting average and was a standout for the Yankees when they won the World Series in 2009.
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Athletic accolades aside, Teixeira has no professional political experience.
In the press release and social media post announcing his candidacy, Teixeira attempted to appeal to Trump and his political movement.
“As a lifelong conservative who loves this country, I’m running for Congress to fight for the principles that make Texas and America great,” he wrote in a post on X. “It takes teamwork to win — I’m ready to help defend President Trump’s America First agenda, Texas families, and individual liberty.”
Teixeira is running to fill the shoes of Roy, a four-term Freedom Caucus member who announced his upcoming departure from the chamber last week to run for Texas attorney general.
“Congressman Chip Roy has represented this district with unwavering courage and leaves an impressive legacy of principled conservative leadership,” Teixeira said in a release.
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