State of Texas
State Representative, District 45
Erin Zwiener
Democratic Incumbent- On ballot as
- Erin Zwiener
- Current role
- State Representative, Texas House District 45 (since January 8, 2019; fourth term)
- Background
- Bachelor's degree in natural resource conservation, University of Montana
- Master's in creative nonfiction, University of Arizona
- Conservationist, author and educator (per campaign)
- Worked for conservation nonprofits including the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (per campaign)
- Taught creative writing (per campaign)
- Born in Irving; lives in Driftwood
- Experience
- Founder and chair, Texas Energy & Climate Caucus (per her Community Impact candidate profile)
- Member, House Natural Resources Committee (per candidate)
- November 2024 general election: defeated Tennyson Moreno
- Top priorities
- Told Community Impact: "Expand local authority to manage growth, improve water conservation standards, fund our local groundwater districts"
- Also lists "increase state funding to public schools, expand Medicaid, protect civil rights for all Texans"
- Data centers: "ending tax incentives, establishing strong regulations on water, energy use and noise"
- Cost of living: "I'll fight to expand Medicaid, improving healthcare access and reducing costs"
- Property taxes: wants the state "to pay its fair, at least 50%, for our public schools instead of passing the buck to property taxpayers"
- Tidbits
- Abortion: Campaign site: "I will fight to restore access to safe and legal abortion."
- Border and immigration: Campaign site: supports "a path to citizenship for folks who've been productive members of our communities" and says of the 2017 law: "I will fight to repeal Senate Bill 4."
- Guns: Campaign site: "We need a regulatory structure that encourages safe and responsible gun ownership, not careless and dangerous ownership."
- Public schools and vouchers: Campaign site, in a passage about the 2023 special sessions headed "Pro-Public School & Anti-Voucher": "I promise to continue fighting for our neighborhood schools, our children, educators, and school district employees."
- Property taxes: Campaign site: wants the state "to pay its fair, at least 50%, for our public schools instead of passing the buck to property taxpayers"
- Endorsements
- Texas AFL-CIO
- Texas AFT
- Equality Texas Action
- Campaign website
- erinforyall.com
Open in the full comparison: Hays County