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Mark Teixeira, Daniel W. Betts, Jason Cahill, Kyle Sinclair, Peggy McCormick Wardlaw, Heather Tessmer, Zeke Enriquez, James "Trey" Trainor III, Weston Martinez, Paul Rojas, Mike Wheeler and Jacques DuBose will appear on the ballot in the March Republican primary election for the U.S. House of Representatives District 21 seat.
Why it matters
The winner will run against the winner of the Democratic primary in November to determine who will represent the district.
At the polls
A candidate must receive over 50% of the votes to win; if this doesn’t happen, a runoff election will be held in May.
Learn more
Candidates were asked to keep responses within 50 words, respond to the questions provided, and avoid attacking opponents. Answers may have been edited or cut to adhere to those guidelines, or for style and clarity.
Former MLB all-star, businessman and investor, and education and school choice advocate
Why are you running for office?
I’m a Christian husband and father blessed by a successful baseball and business career. Raised by a teacher and a veteran, I learned faith, service, and duty. I love this country, and I’m ready to serve in Congress and fight for Texas families every day.
What would your top priorities be if elected?
Border security and immigration enforcement; economy, inflation and federal spending; protecting kids, families and education; energy independence and American prosperity; crime, law and order; defending life, faith and freedom; defending the Second Amendment; America first foreign policy and national security; election integrity and ballot security; healthcare and putting patients first …
What are the biggest challenges facing this district?
Since launching my campaign, Hill Country leaders consistently stress our water, stopping wasteful spending, defending law enforcement, safeguarding property rights, holding developers accountable, supporting first responders, and blocking harmful BESS projects. I’ll address these priorities through regular town halls and direct, ongoing communication with community leaders.
What projects are most important for the Legislature to focus on for the future of Texas?
The legislature must cut government spending to produce meaningful and lasting property tax relief to all Texans.
How do you plan to involve residents in the decision-making process?
In order to have a direct pipeline, and continuing to have a pulse on the district, I will put together an advisory committee that will be district based and led by my staff.
Criminal defense attorney, former DA candidate, state convention delegate, small business owner and church president.
Why are you running for office?
I feel a calling to bring the talents God has given me to the next level in service to this community. I feel an obligation to make sure that my young boys have a united country and to keep the American Dream alive for them.
What would your top priorities be if elected?
Balance the budget, tame national debt, secure the border and fix immigration, institute free market solutions to healthcare failures, regulate Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), ban stock trading by Congress, eliminate the federal income tax, and incentivize nuclear to pair with desalination to solve water issues, ban Sharia law.
What are the biggest challenges facing this district?
Regulation of BESS, election integrity, and water scarcity. BESS: mandatory setbacks, reclamation bonds, training fire departments by developers, banning Chinese components. Elections: Friday national holiday voting, election day Saturday, only one day early voting on Thursday, precinct level voting, paper ballots, eliminate mail-in ballots, limit absentee. Water: nuclear plus desalination …
What projects are most important for the Legislature to focus on for the future of Texas?
Permanently eliminating the influence of Green New Deal policies that have wreaked havoc on Texas' grid and land, making solar and wind stand on their own without subsidies and eliminating the incentive for BESS to be in our state. Preventing China from buying our land and keeping Texas land in …
How do you plan to involve residents in the decision-making process?
Regular town halls in all counties, making sure everyone has my direct phone number (512-290-5205). Polling of voters to determine attitudes in the district.
Navy intelligence veteran and CEO of an oil and gas exploration company.
Why are you running for office?
I am running to secure a strong and prosperous future for my children and families throughout the Texas Hill Country. As a global war on terror veteran, successful oil & gas CEO, and father, I offer the leadership, discipline, and experience necessary to fight effectively for our district in Washington.
What would your top priorities be if elected?
My top priorities include reducing federal spending, addressing deficits, and lowering the national debt. Redirecting funds from ineffective green energy programs to critical Texas water infrastructure and advancing President Trump’s America first agenda in both domestic and foreign policy.
What are the biggest challenges facing this district? How do you plan to address them?
The most pressing concern I hear across the district is the Hill Country’s ongoing water crisis and water future. I want to leverage Congress’ spending power to cut wasteful spending on fraudulent programs and green energy scams and invest in water infrastructure for Texas instead.
What projects are most important for the Legislature to focus on for the future of Texas?
Congress must cut spending and tackle the national debt. America’s financial future is critical to ensure the next generation is not saddled with crippling debt that they have no hope of paying off. This starts with re-prioritizing spending and combating the rampant fraud, waste, and abuse we see nationwide.
How do you plan to involve residents in the decision-making process?
As I travel throughout the district, I consistently hear from local officials, community leaders, and residents about the importance of being heard. I am committed to maintaining an open, accessible office that actively involves residents, welcomes input, and ensures their perspectives inform thoughtful, responsible decision making in Congress.
Healthcare executive, hospital CEO, small business owner and Army National Guard officer.
Why are you running for office?
I’m running to bring real-world competence to government. After two decades leading healthcare organizations, I’ve seen how policy affects families, hospitals, veterans, and small businesses. Washington needs leaders who understand operations, accountability, and outcomes—not career politics.
What would your top priorities be if elected?
My priorities are restoring fiscal discipline, strengthening rural healthcare access, supporting veterans, securing the border, and growing local economies. Government should do fewer things, do them competently, and be judged by measurable results that strengthen families and communities.
What are the biggest challenges facing this district?
TX-21 faces healthcare access gaps, infrastructure strain, workforce shortages, and rising costs. I’ll address these through pragmatic policy, local partnerships, and accountability—focusing on solutions that empower communities rather than expanding one-size-fits-all federal programs.
What projects are most important for the Legislature to focus on for the future of Texas?
Texas must prioritize rural healthcare access, water infrastructure, transportation, energy reliability, workforce development, and veterans’ services. These investments support long-term growth while preserving Texas’ economic strength, independence, and quality of life.
How do you plan to involve residents in the decision-making process?
I will maintain open communication through town halls, constituent meetings, and digital outreach. Effective representation requires listening first, responding transparently, and ensuring residents have direct access to their elected officials beyond election season.
Petroleum engineer, mother of six and small business owner.
Why are you running for office?
I want to bring a new perspective to Congress. We need to bring commonsense solutions to Washington and work together to make government work again.
What would your top priorities be if elected?
Lower healthcare and insurance costs for middle income families. Balance the budget. Make the IRS answer the phone in 10 minutes with accurate information. Pass commonsense solutions to immigration policy: Allow immigrants who have worked, paid taxes, stayed out of legal trouble, and learn English to remain in the US.
What are the biggest challenges facing this district?
The biggest challenges are lack of quality, affordable healthcare. Rising costs of housing and groceries.
What projects are most important for the Legislature to focus on for the future of Texas?
Candidate did not respond to question before press time.
How do you plan to involve residents in the decision-making process?
Listen to residents. Hold town halls and have an open published number for constituents to call.
Candidate did not respond to questionnaire before press time.
Why are you running for office?
Candidate did not respond to questionnaire before press time.
What would your top priorities be if elected?
Candidate did not respond to questionnaire before press time.
What are the biggest challenges facing this district?
Candidate did not respond to questionnaire before press time.
What projects are most important for the Legislature to focus on for the future of Texas?
Candidate did not respond to questionnaire before press time.
How do you plan to involve residents in the decision-making process?
Candidate did not respond to questionnaire before press time.
Christian conservative, husband, father, decorated USMC combat vet, firefighter, rancher, businessman and seventh gen Texan.
Why are you running for office?
I'm running because we need more men of faith stepping up as God calls us to lead this nation back to the ideals our founders' intended. I will codify President Trump's executive orders, carry forward Chip Roy's legislation, and fight to make America affordable again!
What would your top priorities be if elected?
Codifying President Trump's executive orders. Carrying forward Rep. Roy's legislation: election integrity, banning congressional stock trading, and fighting against the Islamification of America. Lowering costs. Slashing spending including waste/fraud/abuse. Keeping our border secure. Fully restoring our 2A rights. Abolishing abortion. Fighting for veterans.
What are the biggest challenges facing this district?
Affordability - eliminate regulations and get government out of the market. Reigning in the rampant fraud, waste, and abuse. Unleash DOGE, drain the swamp, and end funding to NGO's. Supporting President Trump - Codify his executive orders into law. Keeping our border secure. - Finish the wall and expedite mass deportations.
What projects are most important for the Legislature to focus on for the future of Texas?
Making housing and healthcare more affordable. Eliminating new green fantasy projects and unleashing American energy dominance. Protecting our water and natural resources. Keeping our border secured by finishing the wall. Rooting out radical Islamist settlements. Ensuring our veterans get the care and treatment they earned.
How do you plan to involve residents in the decision-making process?
I plan to host regular town halls throughout the district. I will also continue Chip Roy's legacy of having an open door, open phone policy. Always answering to the constituents and holding their interests above my own or those of the lobby/donor class.
Candidate did not respond to questionnaire before press time.
Why are you running for office?
Candidate did not respond to questionnaire before press time.
What would your top priorities be if elected?
Candidate did not respond to questionnaire before press time.
What are the biggest challenges facing this district?
Candidate did not respond to questionnaire before press time.
What projects are most important for the Legislature to focus on for the future of Texas?
Candidate did not respond to questionnaire before press time.
How do you plan to involve residents in the decision-making process?
Candidate did not respond to questionnaire before press time.
Retired Southwestern Bell AT&T engineer, former Texas real estate commissioner, mediator-arbitrator, water expert …
Why are you running for office?
To use my business and political experience fighting the woke agenda in Texas to DC to stop the liberals from undoing what Trump has done. I am the only water and election integrity expert on the ballot. I have been endorsed by local and national leaders to replace Chip Roy ...
What would your top priorities be if elected?
Secure elections, secure border, solve water crisis, mobilize youth, secure Trump executive by putting into law.
What are the biggest challenges facing this district?
One of several points is eliminate fraud riddled mail ballots except for overseas military. Enforce treaties between US and Mexico and fill up the water in the RIO Grande and secure the border overnight. Create an interstate water system while maintaining local control. As a TPUSA faith pastor I have ...
What projects are most important for the Legislature to focus on for the future of Texas?
Election integrity, border security, water security, stop battery storage facilities from being installed, get China out of Texas and stop Islamic takeover.
How do you plan to involve residents in the decision-making process?
I am one of the few candidates who actually live in the district, so it will be easy for me to do. I have always been engaged even when I was Texas real estate commissioner.
Software engineer, firearms manufacturer and small business owner.
Why are you running for office?
At 38, I am the youngest candidate in this race and part of the generation that will live with today’s decisions. I worked for Microsoft, Cisco, and NASA, and have seen how bad policy hurts workers and families. Texas needs future focused representation, not career politicians.
What would your top priorities be if elected?
Affordability, accountability, and American jobs. I will fight waste, fraud, and foreign spending, protect domestic workers from visa abuse and offshoring, defend constitutional rights, and bring real technical expertise on AI, data centers, and infrastructure decisions Congress is unprepared to handle.
What are the biggest challenges facing this district?
Rising costs, housing affordability, infrastructure strain, and job insecurity. I will oppose inflation driving policies, rein in unchecked spending, support workforce development, and push for infrastructure planning that reflects real population growth and long term resource limits.
What projects are most important for the Legislature to focus on for the future of Texas?
Water infrastructure, power grid reliability, responsible growth planning, and workforce aligned education. As AI and data centers expand, Texas must plan now for water and energy demands to protect communities, taxpayers, and long term economic stability.
How do you plan to involve residents in the decision-making process?
Through regular town halls, direct constituent outreach, and transparent communication. My office will be accessible and responsive, prioritizing feedback from residents rather than lobbyists or party insiders.
Candidate did not respond to questionnaire before press time.
Why are you running for office?
Candidate did not respond to questionnaire before press time.
What would your top priorities be if elected?
Candidate did not respond to questionnaire before press time.
What are the biggest challenges facing this district?
Candidate did not respond to questionnaire before press time.
What projects are most important for the Legislature to focus on for the future of Texas?
Candidate did not respond to questionnaire before press time.
How do you plan to involve residents in the decision-making process?
Candidate did not respond to questionnaire before press time.
Navy veteran, nonprofit executive, business owner, former chamber chairman and former Boerne council member.
Why are you running for office?
I’ve spent my life serving this country and my community, and I believe District 21 deserves strong, accountable leadership. As a Navy veteran, business owner, and nonprofit executive, I’ve seen firsthand how Washington’s failures hurt families, veterans, and small businesses. I’m running to secure the border, stop the flow of ...
What would your top priorities be if elected?
My top priorities are border security, stopping fentanyl, fiscal responsibility, and supporting veterans. We must enforce immigration laws, remove dangerous criminals, and secure the border. I’ll fight to cut wasteful spending, reduce regulations on small businesses, and return education decisions to parents and local communities. As a veteran, improving access ...
What are the biggest challenges facing this district?
The biggest challenges are border-related crime, rising costs of living, healthcare access, and federal overreach. I plan to address these by enforcing border laws, supporting pro-growth economic policies, lowering healthcare costs, and standing up to Washington when it interferes with Texas values and priorities.
What projects are most important for the Legislature to focus on for the future of Texas?
Texas must prioritize border security, infrastructure, water resources, public safety, and workforce development. We must also invest in veteran services, rural healthcare access, and policies that keep Texas economically competitive without expanding government.
How do you plan to involve residents in the decision-making process?
I believe representation starts with listening. I will hold regular town halls, community forums, and constituent meetings, and maintain an open-door policy so residents always have a voice in the decisions that affect them.
