Which sports figures won or lost in the midterm elections? Tracking 7 big names

Throughout the country, a small group of former sports figures traded the field of play for the campaign trail, running campaigns in Tuesday's midterm elections where sports -- as a player, coach or commentator -- became a key part of the pitch for office.

We tracked seven high-profile former sports figures to see how they fared in the midterm elections. The first concrete result came in from Texas, where former NFL player Colin Allred was projected to return to the U.S. House.

We will update this story with how the six others fared as the results are finalized.

In Texas, Allred wins a spot back in the U.S. House

Colin Allred, a Democrat and former NFL linebacker, will return to the U.S. House of Representatives in Texas, in the 33rd Congressional District, defeating Republican Patrick Gillespie, a technical writer, in a Democrat-favored district covering Dallas. Allred earned 120,581 votes (80.6 percent) by 9 p.m. ET, when the race was called by The New York Times and The Associated Press.

Allred spent four seasons playing for the Tennessee Titans and retired after suffering a neck injury in 2010. Allred worked as a civil rights lawyer before his election to Congress in 2018, when he served three consecutive terms. He unsuccessfully ran for Senate against Republican incumbent Ted Cruz in 2024 and launched another bid for the Democratic nomination for Senate in 2025 before dropping out before the primary.

Turek in highly watched U.S. Senate seat in Iowa

With tight polling and the possibility of this election deciding control of the Senate, the Iowa race was one of the most expensive and highly watched of this election cycle. Josh Turek, a Democrat, is facing Republican Congresswoman Ashley Hinson, a former local television anchor endorsed by President Donald Trump. Democrats have not won a Senate race in Iowa since 2008, according to NBC.

Turek is a four-time Paralympian and two-time gold medalist in wheelchair basketball. Born with spina bifida after his father was exposed to Agent Orange in Vietnam, he has used a wheelchair since childhood. In 2022, Turek narrowly won election to the Iowa House of Representatives, representing Council Bluffs. He billed himself as a "prairie populist" in the Senate race, focusing on policies aimed at helping the middle class, and was endorsed by former President Barack Obama.

Teixeira running for U.S. Congress in Texas

Republican and former MLB player Mark Teixeira is running against Democrat Kristin Hook to replace Republican Rep. Chip Roy, who unsuccessfully ran for Texas attorney general. The district, which includes north San Antonio and southwest Austin, has sent a Republican to Congress in every election since 1978. Teixeira won Trump's endorsement and beat 11 candidates in the Republican primary earlier this year.

Teixeira spent 14 seasons in the majors, playing for the New York Yankees, Texas Rangers, Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Angels. The first baseman won a World Series with the Yankees in 2009 and played in three All-Star Games. After retiring in 2016, he appeared on ESPN as a baseball analyst until 2021.

Tuberville in race for Alabama Governor

Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville, a former college football coach, is hoping to become the state's next governor. He's running against Democrat civil rights lawyer and former senator Doug Jones. The race was a rematch of 2020, when Tuberville beat the incumbent Jones for his Senate seat. Alabama has not had a Democratic governor since 2003.

Tuberville spent 21 years coaching at Auburn, Mississippi, Texas Tech and Cincinnati. In the Senate, he closely aligned himself with Trump, voting to overturn the results of the 2020 election, blocking military promotions under the Biden Administration and campaigning on anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant sentiment.

Tafoya running for Minnesota race for U.S. Senate

Republican Michele Tafoya, a former NFL sideline reporter, is facing Democrat Peggy Flanagan, the state's lieutenant governor, in the race for U.S. Senate in Minnesota.

Tafoya's long broadcasting career included runs at CBS, ABC and NBC, culminating with her stint as a sideline reporter for NBC's "Sunday Night Football." She left the network in 2022 to move into political commentary, launching a podcast and a Substack. A first-time candidate, she billed herself as a moderate, receiving Trump's endorsement but toeing the line between supporting him and aligning herself too closely in a state that has voted Democrat in every presidential election since 1976.

Feely running for Congress in Arizona

Republican Jay Feely, a former NFL kicker, is running for U.S. Congress in Arizona against Dr. Amish Shah, a Democrat who also has a sports background as a former team physician for the New York Jets.

Feely spent 14 years in the NFL, playing for the Atlanta Falcons, New York Giants, Miami Dolphins, Jets, Arizona Cardinals and Chicago Bears. He made five playoff appearances and worked as an analyst and reporter for CBS after retirement until 2025, when he left to run for office. Feely received Trump's endorsement in a competitive district.

Kluwe running for California Assembly District seat

Democrat Chris Kluwe, a former NFL punter, is in a race against Republican Gracey Van Der Mark, a Huntington Beach city councilwoman, for the California Assembly's District 72 seat.

Kluwe spent eight years playing for the Minnesota Vikings. As an athlete, he was known for his outspoken advocacy for LGBTQ rights, a stance he believes ended his NFL career prematurely; after Minnesota released him in 2013, he never got another NFL offer. He launched his campaign in 2025 after he was arrested at a Huntington Beach City Council meeting for protesting the council's decision to put a "MAGA" plaque outside a library. The high-profile arrest led to him losing his job as a high school football coach and launching his career in politics, becoming a speaker at Orange County political events before running for office.