Former MLB Star Mark Teixeira Speaks Out on Government Shutdown
In the midst of a government shutdown that has stretched beyond two weeks, former Major League Baseball star Mark Teixeira has entered the political arena with strong opinions about who bears responsibility. Teixeira, who announced his candidacy for Texas’ 21st Congressional District in August, has directed his criticism firmly at Democrats, accusing them of setting “a terrible precedent” during this ongoing fiscal impasse. The five-time Gold Glove winner and three-time All-Star, who enjoyed successful stints with the Texas Rangers, Atlanta Braves, and New York Yankees during his 14-year MLB career, believes Democratic lawmakers are failing to fulfill their basic governmental duties by refusing to negotiate.
Speaking with Will Cain recently, Teixeira articulated his frustration with what he perceives as Democratic intransigence. “Elections have consequences,” he stated plainly, explaining that the losing side in an election must accept they won’t always get everything they want in legislation or budget negotiations. He characterized the Democrats’ approach as essentially saying, “No, we don’t accept that,” and accused them of deliberately shutting down the government at the expense of Americans and military personnel simply because they’re “not getting their way.” This stance reflects Teixeira’s broader political positioning as he transitions from professional sports to a potential career in Congress, where he hopes to represent a district in Texas.
When confronted with polling data suggesting voters blame Republicans more heavily for the shutdown, Teixeira dismissed such findings with skepticism. A Reuters/Ipsos poll indicated that while 67% of voters blame Republicans, 63% also blame Democrats and President Trump equally. Teixeira countered that he doesn’t “trust polls,” attributing negative perceptions of Republicans to what he termed “Trump derangement syndrome.” He characterized the Republican position as reasonable – simply requesting a few weeks for negotiation – while painting Democrats as unreasonable for allowing a government shutdown to persist, effectively “holding the American worker and military personnel hostage” in the process.
Teixeira’s comments reveal his emerging political philosophy as he campaigns for office. He acknowledged that bipartisan cooperation is sometimes necessary, especially without significant congressional majorities, but drew a hard line by stating, “We’re not going to negotiate with terrorists.” This provocative language underscores the intensity with which Teixeira has embraced partisan politics, comparing Democrats to those who would change rules and shut down government if they don’t get their way. For the former slugger who hit 409 home runs during his baseball career, compromise appears to have limits, particularly when he believes one side is acting in bad faith.
The baseball star’s political ambitions have become increasingly evident through his public statements. In a recent post on social media platform X, Teixeira declared that “Democrats are destroying our country, and President Trump needs reinforcements who will fight to take our country back.” This rhetoric positions him firmly within the Trump-aligned wing of the Republican Party and signals his intention to be a combative voice rather than a moderate one if elected to Congress. His transition from beloved sports figure to political candidate represents a growing trend of athletes leveraging their public recognition to pursue political office, though few have adopted such explicitly partisan language so quickly.
As the government shutdown continues to affect federal workers and services across the nation, Teixeira’s entrance into this debate highlights how deeply polarized American politics has become. The former first baseman who earned over $200 million during his baseball career now finds himself in a different kind of high-stakes game, where the rules are less clearly defined and the outcomes affect millions of Americans. Whether his celebrity status and outspoken conservative positions will resonate with voters in Texas’ 21st District remains to be seen, but Teixeira has made it clear he intends to swing for the political fences with the same determination that characterized his baseball career.