Cable news and talk radio might not have existed in 1909, though that’s when lawmakers first slugged it out as part of the Congressional Baseball Game.The annual matchup between Democrats and Republicans has been a fixture in the Washington, D.C., area for decades. The bipartisan event raises millions each year for local charities. Here is everything to know about the 2026 game.The Congressional Baseball Game will be played at Nationals Park, home of the MLB’s Washington Nationals, in the Navy Yard neighborhood of D.C., less than two miles from Capitol Hill. The game is scheduled to begin at 7:05 p.m. on Wednesday.
Tickets are nearly sold out, though the game will be televised by C-SPAN and Fox. C-SPAN, which airs congressional hearings and other political events daily, will provide an online livestream in addition to airing the program on its cable channel.
Notable players
Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill can’t claim to be professional athletes, even if they have plenty of experience playing legislative hardball.
One exception is Rep. Roger Williams (R-TX), the Republican team’s coach, who was drafted in the 25th round of the 1971 MLB draft. Williams played in the Atlanta Braves’ farm system and was an outfielder at Texas Christian University before that. Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA) will star opposite Williams as the Democrats’ team manager.
