Texas is divided into 38 areas called districts, each with about 800,000 people. Every two years your district elects one U.S. Representative — one of 435 in Washington, and the only one who answers to you. They vote on laws that touch your health care, your taxes and your rights.
The Democratic candidate
Kristin Hook
DemocratAbout Kristin
Hook grew up in Corpus Christi with a single mom who lived paycheck to paycheck and never went to college. She became a scientist — a Cornell PhD — and then a federal watchdog who hunted down waste and fraud in the government's own books. Now she's running against a retired Yankee.
She spent three years teaching middle-school science before a decade as a research biologist, then went to Washington twice: once as the science expert in Elizabeth Warren's Senate office, then to the Government Accountability Office, the agency that audits the rest of the government. She moved home to Texas in 2022 and quit that job to run — this is her second try for this seat. Her opponent, Mark Teixeira, is a former Yankees first baseman with Donald Trump's endorsement who wants to ban transgender kids from school sports; the district hasn't sent a Democrat to Congress since 1978.
Also on the ballot
Every candidate who filed for this office appears here. Tap a name to read more.
Mark TeixeiraAbout Mark
He never ran for student council. He went straight from the New York Yankees to a congressional race.
Teixeira spent 14 seasons in the majors, winning a World Series ring with the Yankees in 2009 and finishing second in MVP voting that year. He retired with 409 home runs, five Gold Gloves, and no political experience — then moved to Texas, self-funded $2.5 million, and won a crowded Republican primary with 62% of the vote.
Where to vote
Hays County uses vote centers — any registered Hays County voter can vote at any open location in the county. Locations and hours by city: