Congressional Baseball Game Approaches

Democrats are aiming to end a five-year losing streak against the Republicans in the annual Congressional Baseball Game for Charity, a longstanding tradition in Washington, D.C. that has spanned over a century.

On Wednesday, the two teams will face off at Nationals Park around 7:00 p.m. ET for the 91st edition of this event.

Representative Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.), a fan of the Dodgers, will lead the Democratic team, while Representative Rodger Williams (R-Texas), who played baseball at Texas Christian University in the 1960s, will coach the Republican squad.

The Democratic lineup features:

• Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)
• Senator Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.)
• Representative Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.)
• Representative Gregorio Casar (D-Texas)
• Representative Gil Cisneros (D-Calif.)
• Representative Chris Deluzio (D-Penn.)
• Representative Sarah Elfreth (D-Md.)
• Representative Shomari Figures (D-Ala.)
• Representative Adam Gray (D-Calif.)
• Representative Tim Kennedy (D-N.Y.)
• Representative Mike Levin (D-Calif.)
• Representative John Mannion (D-N.Y.)
• Representative Morgan McGarvey (D-Ky.)
• Representative Christian Menefee (D-Texas)
• Representative Dave Min (D-Calif.)
• Representative Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.)
• Representative Frank Mrvan (D-Ind.)
• Representative Kevin Mullin (D-Calif.)
• Representative Johnny Olszewski (D-Md.)
• Representative Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.)
• Representative Josh Riley (D-N.Y.)
• Representative Raul Ruiz (D-Calif.)
• Representative Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.)
• Representative Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.)
• Representative Greg Stanton (D-Ariz.)
• Representative Suhas Subramanyam (D-Va.)
• Representative Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.)

On the Republican side, the roster includes:

• Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa)
• Senator Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.)
• Representative Aaron Bean (R-Fla.)
• Representative Jack Bergman (R-Mich.)
• Representative Mike Bost (R-Ill.)
• Representative Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.)
• Representative Eric Burlison (R-Mo.)
• Representative Kat Cammack (R-Fla.)
• Representative Juan Ciscomani (R-Ariz.)
• Representative Andrew Clyde (R-Ga.)
• Representative Troy Downing (R-Mont.)
• Representative Jake Ellzey (R-Texas)
• Representative Randy Feenstra (R-Iowa)
• Representative Brad Finstad (R-Minn.)
• Representative Chuck Fleischmann (R-Tenn.)
• Representative Clay Fuller (R-Ga.)
• Representative Craig Goldman (R-Texas)
• Representative Pat Harrigan (R-N.C.)
• Representative Erin Houchin (R-Ind.)
• Representative Bill Huizenga (R-Mich.)
• Representative Morgan Luttrell (R-Texas)
• Representative Rich McCormick (R-Ga.)
• Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa)
• Representative Cory Mills (R-Fla.)
• Representative John Moolenaar (R-Mich.)
• Representative Blake Moore (R-Utah)
• Representative Nathaniel Moran (R-Texas)
• Representative Greg Murphy (R-N.C.)
• Representative Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.)
• Representative Gary Palmer (R-Ala.)
• Representative August Pfluger (R-Texas)
• Representative Steve Scalise (R-La.)
• Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.)
• Representative Marlin Stutzman (R-Ind.)
• Representative Dave Taylor (R-Ohio)
• Representative William Timmons (R-S.C.)
• Representative Matt Van Epps (R-Tenn.)
• Representative Roger Williams (R-Texas)

The first Congressional baseball game took place way back in 1909, although there have been interruptions during events like the Great Depression and World War II. In the late 1950s, House Speaker Sam Rayburn, a Democrat, even paused the tradition due to escalating rivalries between the parties.

This summertime event not only brings fun but also supports local charities and provides scholarships for kids in the area.

Republicans have dominated the recent matchups, winning 13-12 in 2021, 10-0 in 2022, 16-6 in 2023, 31-11 in 2024, and 13-2 in 2025. Notably, the 2020 game was canceled due to the pandemic, which means the last time the Democrats won was in 2019, with a score of 14-7.

This year’s game holds special significance for Democrats since former major league player and World Series champion Mark Teixeira is running as the Republican nominee for Texas’ 21st Congressional District. Teixeira, now 46, has played for teams like the Texas Rangers and New York Yankees.

“I’m excited about knocking off the rust — then beating the Democrats on and off the field,” he commented about next year’s game, assuming he wins in November.

What are your thoughts on the upcoming game? It’s definitely a unique blend of sports and politics!