World Series winner Mark Teixeira is headed to Congress for Texas's 21st District, while ex-NFL sideline reporter Michele Tafoya lost her Minnesota Senate bid.
From the diamond to Capitol Hill: former World Series champion Mark Teixeira has won a seat in the US House of Representatives. The Republican will represent Texas's 21st Congressional District after beating Democrat Kristin Hook in Tuesday's midterm elections.
By Wednesday morning, with 99% of ballots counted, Teixeira held 54.5% of the vote. That is a comfortable margin for a first-time candidate who spent his career at first base, not on the campaign trail.
The night was not a clean sweep for sports figures chasing public office. Former NFL sideline reporter Michele Tafoya lost her Senate bid in Minnesota to Peggy Flanagan, ending her push for a seat in the upper chamber.
Teixeira's win adds another name to the list of athletes who have moved from the field into politics. His next job is in Washington, where he will have to deliver for the voters of Texas's 21st District.
