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‹ Texas Senate, District 21

Judith Zaffirini

Judith Zaffirini
DemocraticIncumbent
Running for Texas Senate, District 21.

Background

Judith Zaffirini has represented Senate District 21 since first being elected in 1986. She owns a communications firm and taught for 13 years. 

Current role
State Senator, District 21
Occupation
Owner, Zaffirini Communications; former teacher
Education
B.A., M.A. and Ph.D. in communication, University of Texas at Austin
Prior offices
Texas Senate, District 21 (first elected 1986)
Hometown
Laredo
Website

Positions

Property Taxes

What is the candidate's position on property tax levels and relief?
No public position found.
Searched Oct 19, 2026.

Education and School Choice

What is the candidate's position on public school funding, education savings accounts, and curriculum?
Supports universal pre-K, special education funding, tuition-free university expansion and workforce education. 
Voting record
Voted no on the Senate motion to concur in House amendments to SB 2, which created the education savings account program (often called school vouchers); adopted 19-12 (Senate Journal, April 24, 2025). 

Border Security

What role should the state play in border security and immigration enforcement?
No public position found.
Searched Oct 19, 2026.

Power Grid and Energy

What is the candidate's position on the ERCOT grid, reliability, and energy production?
Supports incentives for wind and solar energy and electric vehicle manufacturing. 

Abortion

What is the candidate's position on Texas abortion law?
No public position found.
Searched Oct 19, 2026.

Firearms

What is the candidate's position on Texas firearms laws?
No public position found.
Searched Oct 19, 2026.

Public Safety and Bail

What is the candidate's position on bail, policing, and criminal justice?
Lists school safety, access to justice, and protections for vulnerable populations. 

Health Care

What is the candidate's position on Medicaid, insurance coverage, and health costs in Texas?
Supports Medicaid expansion, the Affordable Care Act, and barring insurance exclusions for preexisting conditions. 

Elections and Voting

What is the candidate's position on election administration, voting rules, and redistricting?
Supports protecting voting rights and says she opposed redistricting actions she viewed as violating the Voting Rights Act. 

District Priorities

What does the candidate say are the top issues for this district?
No public position found.
Searched Oct 19, 2026.

Transgender Policy

What is the candidate's position on Texas laws related to transgender people, including medical treatment for minors, school sports, facilities, and legal definitions of sex?
Not yet researched.

Religion and Public Schools

What is the candidate's position on religion in public schools, such as displaying the Ten Commandments, school prayer, and chaplains?
Not yet researched.

Religious Liberty and Faith Communities

What has the candidate said or done regarding religious freedom and specific faith communities in Texas, such as Christians, Jews, and Muslims?
Not yet researched.

Home Insurance and Housing Costs

What is the candidate's approach to home insurance rates and housing costs in Texas?
Not yet researched.

Money

Finance figures are being checked against official FEC and Texas Ethics Commission filings and will appear here once verified.

Endorsements

No public endorsements found. Searched Oct 19, 2026.