Teixeira Benches Himself in Blanco – Trainor Hits a Grand Slam

Scouting the Talent in TX-21: Who Has the Stats to Replace Chip Roy?

Last night, the Old 300 BBQ in Blanco was packed wall-to-wall with Blanco County Republicans eager to size up the candidates vying to replace Chip Roy in Texas’s 21st Congressional District. Nine hopefuls showed up ready to answer tough questions: Peggy Wardlaw, Daniel Betts, Trey Trainor, Kyle Sinclair, Jason Cahill, Zeke Enriquez, Paul Rojas, Weston Martinez, and Mike Wheeler.

One name was conspicuously missing from the lineup: former Major League Baseball star Mark Teixeira.

In a district that stretches from south of Austin to San Antonio and includes conservative strongholds like Blanco County, Teixeira has yet to appear at a single unscripted voter forum. With last night’s event being the only scheduled candidate forum in Blanco County before the March 3 primary, it sure looks like the ex-Yankee has decided to write off this part of TX-21 entirely. You can’t hit a home run from the dugout, Tex.

The evening kicked off with standard five-minute introductions. Most were familiar stump speeches, but it was the debut appearance for Peggy Wardlaw and Weston Martinez. Wardlaw quickly stood out—and not in a good way—as the most moderate voice in the race, even offering faint praise for Obamacare in a room full of conservatives who’ve spent years fighting to repeal it.

The questions rolled in, covering the usual conservative priorities: spending, debt, party history, and foreign policy.

The first major topic was President Trump’s bold military action to apprehend Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro—a move that has dominated headlines this week. While every candidate expressed support for the President’s decision, Trey Trainor delivered the standout answer.

He shared his firsthand experience officially representing the United States in Costa Rica to monitor the national elections in 2024, where he publicly called for rigorous enforcement of the Monroe Doctrine to counter foreign influence in our hemisphere. Trainor explained how the successful operation against Maduro is exactly the kind of leadership he envisioned—proving once again that he’s the candidate with real executive experience and foreign policy foresight.

As the night wore on, the candidates sounded largely aligned on core conservative issues, though the crowd grew restless during Weston Martinez’s responses; he consistently ran over time and veered off-topic, testing everyone’s patience.

But the sharpest contrast came on the final question from Blanco County GOP Chair Carlette Lewis: Would the candidates have supported President Trump’s landmark “One Big Beautiful Bill”?

Earlier in the evening, nearly every candidate had proclaimed unwavering loyalty to President Trump and his agenda. Yet when push came to shove, a clear divide emerged. Jason Cahill, Zeke Enriquez, and Paul Rojas all admitted they would not have voted for the President’s signature legislative achievement—the massive tax cuts and border security funding package that included an $11 billion reimbursement to Texas for the costs we bore securing the border under Biden.

Daniel Betts said “I do not like omnibus legislation generally but it would be very difficult for me to say no to President Trump and that I am a longstanding supporter of his.”

Trey Trainor, once again, provided the most thoughtful and detailed response. He explained why he would have proudly supported the bill: it delivered the largest tax cuts in history while finally making the federal government pay Texas back the $11 billion we spent doing Biden’s job. For a room full of taxpayers tired of footing Washington’s bills, that answer landed like a walk-off home run.

By the end of the night, one thing was crystal clear: in a crowded field where many talk a big game about supporting President Trump, Trey Trainor is the only one with the record, the depth, and the executive experience to back it up.

Mark Teixeira may have the name recognition, but he couldn’t even be bothered to show up and face voters in Blanco County.

With more forums coming and early voting starting February 17, the momentum is building. Blanco County seemed convinced of one thing last night: we want the real deal—not celebrities, not moderates, and not fair-weather Trump supporters.

Editor’s note: Story was corrected regarding the response regarding support of the Big Beautiful Bill by Daniel Betts.