U.S. House, Texas 21st Congressional District · November 3, 2026
Who should I vote for in Texas's 21st Congressional District?
No candidate in Texas's 21st Congressional District has enough public record yet for a Ballot Standard score, as of October 6, 2026. Kristin Hook (7 of 15 criteria) and Mark Teixeira (7 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Democratic
Kristin Hook
On the ballot as KRISTIN HOOK
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 7 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 50
- Performance
- NR
Republican
Mark Teixeira
On the ballot as MARK TEIXEIRA
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 7 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 50
- Performance
- NR
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Kristin Hook
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Mark Teixeira
- On the record2026-01
Lives in Bee Cave, which the San Antonio Report reported in January 2026 lies outside District 21; House candidates are not required to live in their districts.
Sources: San Antonio Report, Jan. 23, 2026, Texas Tribune, Feb. 10, 2026
- Credit2009
Won the 2009 World Series with the New York Yankees during a 14-season Major League career that included three All-Star selections and five Gold Glove awards.
Sources: CBS News Texas, Aug. 28, 2025, Texas Public Radio and Texas Tribune, Aug. 28, 2025
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Kristin Hook. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026, and a House candidate financial disclosure was filed May 23, 2026. No FEC administrative fine or ethics finding found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, House Clerk candidate financial disclosure, Filing ID 10079825, FEC administrative fines search
Mark Teixeira. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026, and a House candidate financial disclosure was filed Aug. 13, 2026 after an extension. No FEC administrative fine or ethics finding found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, House Clerk candidate financial disclosure, Filing ID 10075658, FEC administrative fines search
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Kristin Hook. No public record found.
Mark Teixeira. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Kristin Hook. No public record found.
Mark Teixeira. Took part in a January 2026 Republican primary debate hosted by the Bexar County Republican Party and spoke at public campaign events, including one in Bandera on Sept. 24, 2026. No general election debate record found.
Sources: San Antonio Report, Jan. 23, 2026, Bandera Bulletin, Oct. 1, 2026
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Kristin Hook. No public record found.
Mark Teixeira. No public record found.
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Kristin Hook. Worked as a biologist at the U.S. Government Accountability Office, a federal civil service post. No finding of misuse of office found.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Kristin Hook, San Antonio Report candidate profile
Mark Teixeira. No public record found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Kristin Hook. Ph.D. biologist who taught middle school science with Teach for America, worked at the National Institutes of Health and as a GAO biologist, and was a policy fellow in a U.S. Senate office. Has not held elected office.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Kristin Hook, Texas Public Radio, Oct. 5, 2026
Mark Teixeira. Played 14 seasons of Major League Baseball, then invested in small businesses, startups and real estate and worked with the Texas Public Policy Foundation on school choice. Has not held public office.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Mark Teixeira, San Antonio Report candidate profile, Texas Public Radio and Texas Tribune, Aug. 28, 2025
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Kristin Hook. Publishes issue positions on the economy, health care, abortion, education, immigration, voting and the environment, mostly in general terms, with some specifics such as a higher minimum wage and Medicare drug price negotiation.
Sources: Campaign site, Issues, San Antonio Report candidate profile
Mark Teixeira. Publishes an 11-point issues page on border enforcement, federal spending, education, energy, crime, abortion, gun rights, foreign policy, elections, health care and term limits, in general terms.
Source: Campaign site, Issues
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Kristin Hook. Completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey and the San Antonio Report and Community Impact questionnaires, and publishes issue pages. Two channels under E8.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Kristin Hook, Community Impact candidate Q&A, Campaign site, Issues
Mark Teixeira. Answered the San Antonio Report and Community Impact questionnaires, publishes an issues page and debated in the Republican primary. Three channels under E8. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: San Antonio Report candidate profile, Community Impact candidate Q&A, San Antonio Report, Jan. 23, 2026, Ballotpedia, Mark Teixeira
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Kristin Hook. Says she moved from San Antonio to San Marcos in 2025; San Marcos lies wholly in the redrawn district. Grew up in Corpus Christi. About 78 percent of itemized individual contributions for 2025 to 2026 came from Texas.
Sources: San Antonio Report candidate profile, The University Star, FEC contribution totals by state
Mark Teixeira. Lives in Bee Cave, which the San Antonio Report reports is outside District 21; the district plan includes no Travis County territory. Moved back to Texas in 2021. About 65 percent of itemized individual contributions came from Texas.
Sources: San Antonio Report, Jan. 23, 2026, Texas Tribune, Feb. 10, 2026, Texas Legislative Council, PLANC2333 district report, FEC contribution totals by state
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Kristin Hook. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine record found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Mark Teixeira. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine record found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Kristin Hook. No public record found.
Mark Teixeira. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Kristin Hook. No public record found.
Mark Teixeira. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Kristin Hook. No public record found.
Mark Teixeira. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Kristin Hook. No public record found.
Mark Teixeira. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Kristin Hook. No public record found.
Mark Teixeira. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 6, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in Texas's 21st Congressional District?
No candidate in Texas's 21st Congressional District has enough public record yet for a Ballot Standard score, as of October 6, 2026. Kristin Hook (7 of 15 criteria) and Mark Teixeira (7 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in Texas's 21st Congressional District in 2026?
KRISTIN HOOK (Democratic), MARK TEIXEIRA (Republican). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Kristin Hook a good candidate for Congress?
Kristin Hook has public evidence on 7 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Mark Teixeira a good candidate for Congress?
Mark Teixeira has public evidence on 7 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every Texas race scored, the trailing candidate's path to victory, and the Texas 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.