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Updated · Fox News · Aug 27Teixeira, Feely Credit Hannity for 2 GOP House Runs
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Aug 27Summary
- Mark Teixeira and Jay Feely said on Sean Hannity’s podcast that his TV show and their appearances on it pushed them toward running for Congress.
- Feely, a former NFL kicker, said joining Hannity’s “Great American Panel” in New York was when he first seriously considered a campaign.
- Teixeira, the former Yankees star, said watching Hannity’s show, meeting political figures and talking with Feely helped spur his own decision.
- Both are now Republican candidates—Feely in Arizona’s 1st District and Teixeira in Texas’ 21st—bringing long pro sports careers into House races.
Insights
Can a popular media host single-handedly transform beloved sports stars into viable candidates for public office? How exactly does handling pressure on the football field prepare a candidate for the complex realities of Congress?