The Democrats face a tense atmosphere as they enter this week’s Congressional Baseball Game at Nationals Park. After six consecutive losses, they confront the possibility of another setback due to an impending addition to the GOP’s lineup. Mark Teixeira, a former Texas Rangers and New York Yankees star, is poised to win a Congressional seat. Ranked 58th on MLB’s all-time home run leaderboard with 409 homers, Teixeira would then bolster the GOP team.
Despite the impending game set for Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET on Fox Nation, the Democrats are already strategizing. “We’re just going to walk him every time we have an opportunity,” Senator Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) revealed to The Hill. He also remarked, “We need to draft a major league baseball player to come and play for us.”
Teixeira, who retired from professional baseball nearly a decade ago, expressed enthusiasm about participating. “I’m excited about knocking off the rust — then beating the Democrats on and off the field,” he posted on X.
Republican starting pitcher Greg Steube from Florida’s 17th District boasts a history of performance against the Democrats. He stated, “I’ll take the mound for the Republicans in the annual Congressional Baseball Game for charity. Looking forward to taking down the Democrats (again) and supporting a great cause!” In 2021, Steube hit a remarkable out-of-the-park home run during the game, the first in 40 years.
The GOP’s dominance in recent years is further compounded by Rep. Pat Harrigan (R-N.C.), who played college baseball at Georgetown. In 2025, he relieved Steube and efficiently ended the game. Harrigan mentioned on Instagram, “Republicans have won the game five years in a row, and for some reason the Democrats keep showing up. See you tomorrow at Nationals Park as we go for six!”
The Democrats face the likelihood of extending their losing streak to a decade. However, there’s a silver lining with the substantial funds these games raise for D.C. charities. The 2025 game generated $2.75 million, and this week’s event aims to top that amount.
Writer Joe Kinsey serves as the Senior Director of Content at OutKick.