Mark Teixeira hit 409 home runs in the big leagues. Now he is going to Washington.

The Republican former slugger won election to the U.S. House on Tuesday in Texas' 21st Congressional District.

He beat Democrat Kristin Hook, a former federal scientist who worked for the National Institutes of Health and the Government Accountability Office.

Taking over for Chip Roy

The seat is held by Republican Rep. Chip Roy, who did not run again. Teixeira won the GOP primary in March with more than 61% of the vote.

The district covers a deeply conservative area west of Austin and San Antonio.

"I'm excited to get to work," Teixeira said in a statement after the win.

A big baseball career

Teixeira was the No. 5 pick in the 2001 draft by the Texas Rangers. He played 14 seasons, mostly with the Rangers and the New York Yankees.

He made three All-Star teams. He won five Gold Gloves, three Silver Sluggers and the 2009 World Series with the Yankees.

He and his family moved back to Texas in 2021 after he retired.

Other sports names on the ballot

Former Auburn football coach Tommy Tuberville won the race for Alabama governor. He beat Democrat Doug Jones for the second time in a head-to-head race.

Former NFL sideline reporter Michele Tafoya lost her U.S. Senate bid in Minnesota to Democrat Peggy Flanagan.