Kristin Hook
Democratic candidate for U.S. Representative, District 21, Bexar County, Texas · Open seat
Scientist (former U.S. Government Accountability Office biologist)
Kristin Hook is a biologist from Corpus Christi with a Ph.D. from Cornell. She worked in federal science and oversight jobs, including at the U.S. Government Accountability Office and as an oversight investigator for Sen. Elizabeth Warren. She was the Democratic nominee for Texas' 21st Congressional District in 2024, won the three-way Democratic primary on March 3, 2026, and faces Republican Mark Teixeira for the open seat on November 3, 2026.
Where Hook stands
- Taxes
- Supports changing the tax code so that, in her words, 'the wealthy pay their fair share.' Her campaign's economic platform is titled 'Make Billionaires Pay Their Fair Share.'
- Abortion
- Supports passing federal legislation to restore abortion rights nationwide and to protect access to contraception and IVF. Her campaign platform is titled 'Abortion: Restoring Our Freedoms.'
- Education
- Pledges to strengthen public schools and workforce training programs. Supports partnerships between employers and schools to train workers.
- Energy
- Says she will 'stop AI data centers from stealing our water and electricity.' Pledges to protect the environment and clean water.
- Economy and cost of living
- Supports raising the federal minimum wage and lowering the cost of housing, health care, child care, elder care and groceries. Supports strengthening Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.
- Congressional oversight and separation of powers
- Says Congress should check the executive branch rather than defer to it. Supports oversight investigations, open hearings and use of the power of the purse.
Background
- Born in Corpus Christi, Texas; graduated from Ray High School
- B.S. and B.A. in biology, University of Texas at Austin (2007)
- Ph.D. in animal behavior/behavioral biology, Cornell University (2016)
- Middle school science teacher with Teach for America
- Postdoctoral researcher, University of Maryland
- Policy fellow and oversight investigator in Sen. Elizabeth Warren's office; policy fellow at the National Institutes of Health
- Biologist, U.S. Government Accountability Office; moved back to Texas in 2022
- Democratic nominee for TX-21, 2024; lost to incumbent Chip Roy (36.1% to 61.9%)
- Won the 2026 Democratic primary for TX-21 on March 3, 2026 with 60.1%, against Regina Vanburg and Gary Taylor
In the news
- Meet the candidates vying to replace Chip Roy in Texas’ 21st Congressional District KUT, October 21, 2026
- Progressive scientist Kristin Hook tries again in a Republican stronghold San Antonio Report, October 14, 2026
- Scientist Kristin Hook faces former baseball star Mark Teixeira for TX-CD21 Texas Public Radio, October 5, 2026
Also running for U.S. Representative, District 21
- Mark Teixeira Republican
Sources
- Ballotpedia: Kristin Hook
- Ballotpedia: Texas' 21st Congressional District election, 2026
- Campaign website
- Campaign issues page
- San Antonio Report candidate questionnaire (2026)
- 2026election.com TX-21 head-to-head
- KUT: Meet the candidates (2026-10-21)
- TPR The Source interview (2026-10-05)
Last researched October 22, 2026. Written in neutral language from the sources above. Spot an error? See how to report it.