Teixeira wins Texas 21st District
Mark Teixeira, the former Major League Baseball player and World Series champion who ran as a Republican, has prevailed in the race for Texas's 21st Congressional District, according to vote tallies late Wednesday morning. With 99% of ballots counted, Teixeira was reported to be leading with 54.5% of the vote, defeating Democratic candidate Kristin Hook in the midterm elections.
A newcomer to elective office, Teixeira will move from a high-profile sports career into the U.S. House of Representatives, where he will represent the central Texas district in Washington. The outcome was announced as election officials continued to finalize remaining counts across multiple races.
Tafoya defeated in Minnesota Senate bid
In Minnesota, former NFL reporter Melissa Tafoya, who had mounted a campaign for the U.S. Senate, was defeated by Peggy Flanagan. Tafoya’s loss marks a high-profile unsuccessful bid to move from media into elected office and concludes a closely watched contest in the state.
Iowa result clinches Senate for Democrats
Separately, Turek’s victory in Iowa was reported to have clinched control of the Senate for the Democratic Party. That outcome, combined with other results on Tuesday, determines the balance of power in the chamber as the new Congress prepares to convene.
These results reflect a mix of high-profile candidacies and shifting political calculations in the midterm elections, with athletes and media figures among those testing the electoral waters. Officials will continue to certify results in the coming days as contested or outstanding ballots are resolved.