State Senator, District 21 - Texas Ballot Compare

Julie Dahlberg

Republican

On ballot as: Julie Dahlberg
Current role: Nonprofit and business consultant; co-owner with her husband of MYCO Glass & Mirror, a glass company in La Vernia
Background: U.S. Army veteran (1993–1994) (service dates per Ballotpedia)
Author, "Boldly Meek" (book on communication in church life)
Born in Kentucky, raised in Florida
Moved to Texas in 1991 (per candidate)
La Vernia resident for 13 years (per her candidate questionnaire)
Experience: Founder, The Garden, a charitable ministry (2024) (per candidate)
Republican nominee, this seat (2022); lost to Judith Zaffirini, 61.6% to 35.9%
Helped manage another candidate's campaign for this Senate seat (2019), her entry into politics (per candidate)
Served as a Republican precinct chair and as a delegate to the Republican Party of Texas state convention
Former executive director, San Antonio sober living nonprofit (per her candidate questionnaire)
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Former Program and Events Director, USO in San Antonio (per campaign)
Former corporate administrator, company employing more than 300 people (per campaign)
Top priorities: Campaign site: "Eliminate all property taxes" and replace them "with a transparent consumption tax system"
Campaign site: "Zero-based budgeting" and "Performance audits of state agencies"
Elections: "Proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration" and "Hand-marked paper ballots"
Water: "Major investment in desalination & regional water supply pipelines"
"Limit elected officials to no more than three terms. I prefer no more than two terms."
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"Preborn children should have equal protection under the law against murder"
"I support a 20% increase in teacher base pay at all levels"; "school choice should be truly universal"
Tidbits: Abortion: Campaign site: "Preborn children should have equal protection under the law against murder, just like the protection exists for every other person."
Border and immigration: In a 2026 Ballotpedia candidate survey, under "My highest priorities": "BORDER SECURITY & SUPPORTING DEPORTATION OF ILLEGAL TRESPASSERS"
Guns: Campaign site: "Oppose gun-grab laws that infringe upon the Second Amendment or deny citizens their right to due process." Also: "Repeal gun-free zone laws."
Public schools and vouchers: Campaign site: "I also believe school choice should be truly universal." Also: "I support a 20% increase in teacher base pay at all levels."
Property taxes: Campaign site: "Replace property taxes with a transparent consumption tax system that does not raise the overall tax burden on taxpayers"
Claims and the record
Controversies: None found in the news coverage we reviewed
Endorsements: None found in our research
Campaign website: juliefortexassenate.com

Judith Zaffirini

Democratic Incumbent

On ballot as: Judith Zaffirini
Current role: State Senator, Texas Senate District 21 (since 1987; first elected 1986); Dean of the Texas Senate
Background: B.S., M.A. and Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin
Communications specialist with 13 years of teaching experience
Owner, Zaffirini Communications
President, D&J Alexander Foundation
President, Mr. South Texas Foundation
Hometown Laredo
Experience: First Mexican American woman elected to the Texas Senate (per official biography)
Dean of the Senate, its longest-serving member (since Dec. 31, 2023)
First woman to hold the title of Dean
Vice chair, Senate Committee on Natural Resources
Member, Business and Commerce, Finance, and State Affairs committees
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Member, Texas Judicial Council and Texas Access to Justice Commission
1,524 bills passed and 76,843 consecutive votes cast since 1987 (per official biography)
Top priorities: "education in general, with a focus on early and higher education"
"health and human services in general, with a focus on the very young, the very old, the very poor, persons with disabilities, and veterans"
"higher salaries and retirement benefits for teachers; expanding medicaid and healthcare in rural counties"
"lowering costs, including by reducing property taxes and establishing tax holidays"
"providing access to justice"
Voted against the 2025 school voucher bill, citing her "long-standing record of opposing vouchers"
Tidbits: Abortion: In 2013, explaining her vote against an abortion-regulation bill (House Bill 2): "I am pro-life. I always have been, and I always will be"; said the bill "reduces women's access to health care"
Border and immigration: In a 2024 op-ed with three other border senators: the border "cannot and will not be secured with a wall or fence"; proposes "advanced virtual or smart wall technologies"
Guns: In a March 1, 2026 statement with Sen. Sarah Eckhardt after a mass shooting in Austin: "We must address the consequences of deadly weapons being so common and accessible."
Public schools and vouchers: Campaign site: "we must protect Texas public schools and not allow funding to be taken from public schools to pay for private school vouchers"
Property taxes: In a San Antonio Report questionnaire: "Reducing property taxes must be accomplished responsibly and sustainably."
Claims and the record
Controversies: None found in the news coverage we reviewed
Endorsements: Texas AFL-CIO
Texas State Teachers Association (TSTA)
TEXPAC (Texas Medical Association PAC)
CLEAT PAC (Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas)
Austin American-Statesman Editorial Board (primary)
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Texas State Association of Firefighters (listed by campaign)
Texas Farm Bureau (listed by campaign)
Texas Association of Realtors (listed by campaign)
Tejano Democrats (listed by campaign)
Capitol Area Progressive Democrats (listed by campaign)
UT-Austin University Democrats (listed by campaign)
Austin Young Democrats (listed by campaign)
Dove Springs Proud (listed by campaign)
Liberal Austin Democrats (listed by campaign)
Texas Society of Professional Engineers (listed by campaign)
Campaign website: judithzaffirini.com