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

Judith Zaffirini

State Senator, District 21

Judith Zaffirini