Judith Zaffirini
Texas State Senator, District 21 since 1986. Ran in 15 elections between 1986 and 2022, winning 14. Re-elected in 2026. Next on the ballot in 2030.
Texas State Senator, District 21Born 1946
- In office
- 40 yrs
- Since 1986
- Bills became law
- 144
- 437 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 0.0%
- Chamber median 0.0%
- With party
- 100%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- +38.2
- Won 2026
- Next election
- 2030
- Nov 5, 2030
Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Committees
As of 2026-10.
- Natural Resources · vice chair
- Business and Commerce
- Finance
- State Affairs
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
Disaster Preparedness & Relief (I0211) · Became law Sep 2025
CRIME VICTIMS (S0046) · Became law Sep 2025
City Government--General (I0060) · Became law Sep 2025
ALERT SYSTEM (S0523) · Became law Sep 2025
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where Zaffirini sits in the Texas State Senate
Zaffirini is closer to the center than 33% of the chamber's Democrats.
Closest: Roland Gutierrez, Carol Alvarado, Borris Miles
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 5:04 PM ET
With Zaffirini’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Democrats100%
- Cosponsorships of the other party's bills84%
Black tick: the average of Democrats in the Texas State Senate.
Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships
Key votes
Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: Zaffirini’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Democrats.
| Date | Bill | Zaffirini | Dem. majority | Rep. majority | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 4, 2025 | HB 18: Relating to a restriction on the acceptance of political contributions and the making of… | No | No | Yes | Passed 18–8 |
| Sep 3, 2025 | HB 7: Relating to prohibitions on the manufacture and provision of abortion-inducing drugs,… | No | No | Yes | Passed 17–8 |
| Sep 3, 2025 | SB 8: Relating to the designation and use of certain spaces and facilities according to sex;… | No | No | Yes | Passed 18–8 |
| Aug 27, 2025 | HB 26: Relating to contracting with law enforcement agencies in certain counties. | No | No | Yes | Passed 21–5 |
| Aug 27, 2025 | HB 8: Relating to public school accountability and transparency, including the implementation of… | No | No | Yes | Passed 21–5 |
Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls
Career
Offices held, and every time Zaffirini was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.
Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Elections
Margin against the seat’s presidential baseline: how the seat voted for president in the same or nearest year.
| Year | Race | Result | Margin | Seat | +/− |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Texas State Senate, District 21 | Won | D+38.2 | D+3.2 | +35.0 |
| 2022 | Texas State Senate, District 21 | Won | D+25.6 | D+19.7 | +5.9 |
| 2020 | Texas State Senate, District 21 | Won | D+20.3 | — | — |
| 2016 | Texas State Senate, District 21 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2012 | Texas State Senate, District 21 | Won | D+38.5 | — | — |
| 2008 | Texas State Senate, District 21 | Won | D+39.1 | — | — |
| 2004 | Texas State Senate, District 21 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2002 | Texas State Senate, District 21 | Won | D+78.2 | — | — |
| 2000 | Texas State Senate, District 21 | Won | D+32.9 | — | — |
| 1996 | Texas State Senate, District 21 | Won | D+32.6 | — | — |
| 1994 | Texas State Senate, District 21 | Won | D+37.1 | — | — |
| 1992 | Texas State Senate, District 21 | Won | — | — | — |
| 1990 | Texas State Senate, District 21 | Won | D+36.6 | — | — |
| 1986 | Texas State Senate, District 21 | Won | D+4.2 | — | — |
| 1986 | Texas State Senate, District 21 (runoff) | Won | +16.4 | — | — |
| 1986 | Texas State Senate, District 21 (primary) | Lost | +12.8 | — | — |
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: Texas Secretary of State (unofficial)Updated Nov 8, 2026, 7:01 PM ET
Campaign money, 2025–26
- Raised
- $1.8M
- Spent
- $1.7M
- Cash
- $947.6K
Source: Texas Ethics Commission filings through Oct 24, 2026Updated Nov 1, 2026, 3:49 AM ET
Campaign committees
Open committees can still raise and spend money.
| Judith Zaffirini State | Active |
Source: Texas Ethics Commission filings through Oct 24, 2026Updated Nov 1, 2026, 3:49 AM ET
Seats Zaffirini has held
- Texas State Senate, District 21 · since 1986
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Zaffirini has run against
- Julie Dahlberg (R) · 2026 election, won
- Frank Pomeroy (R) · 2020 election, won
- Grant Rostig (R) · 2012 election, won
- Louis H. Bruni (R) · 2008 election, won
- Jeff Carruthers (L) · 2002 election, won
- David Swift (R) · 2000 election, won
- James C. Whitworth (R) · 1996 election, won
- Fernando Cantu (R) · 1994 election, won
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: Texas Secretary of State (unofficial)
How we know Zaffirini
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/c7aad3b7-ca16-4989-bf68-87ed72498a6b
- Wikidata Q13562493
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET