State

State Senator, District 21

Vote for: 1
Term: 4 years
Candidates: 2
Election: Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: A state senator is one of 31 members of the Texas Senate, which writes and votes on state laws and the state budget and confirms many of the Governor's appointments.

Covers all of Caldwell, Dimmit, Duval, Jim Hogg, Karnes, La Salle, Live Oak, McMullen, Starr, Webb, Wilson and Zapata counties, and part of Bexar, Guadalupe, Hays and Travis counties.

Candidates Compare by issue

Julie Dahlberg

Republican

Business consultant

The gist

Proposes replacing property taxes with a consumption tax.
Supports a 20% raise in teacher base pay.
Supports legislative term limits; pledges to serve two terms.
Proposes precinct-level ballot counting and citizen-run elections.
Supports investment in desalination and regional water pipelines.
Proposes repealing laws exempting women from fetal homicide charges.
Opposes gun restrictions that infringe on Second Amendment rights.
Supports stronger eminent domain protections for landowners.

More about Julie

View sources (1)

Proposes replacing property taxes with a consumption tax.
Priority Issues - Julie Dahlberg for Texas Senate
Campaign website · Julie Dahlberg campaign · juliefortexassenate.com
“Replace property taxes with a transparent consumption tax system that does not raise the overall tax burden on taxpayers”
Supports a 20% raise in teacher base pay.
Priority Issues - Julie Dahlberg for Texas Senate
Campaign website · Julie Dahlberg campaign · juliefortexassenate.com
“I support a 20% increase in teacher base pay at all levels.”
Supports legislative term limits; pledges to serve two terms.
Priority Issues - Julie Dahlberg for Texas Senate
Campaign website · Julie Dahlberg campaign · juliefortexassenate.com
“Limit elected officials to no more than three terms. I prefer no more than two terms. … I will only serve a maximum of two terms, if elected.”
Proposes precinct-level ballot counting and citizen-run elections.
Priority Issues - Julie Dahlberg for Texas Senate
Campaign website · Julie Dahlberg campaign · juliefortexassenate.com
“Precinct-level ballot counting before ballots leave the polling place … Citizen-run elections through a jury-duty style election workforce”
Supports investment in desalination and regional water pipelines.
Priority Issues - Julie Dahlberg for Texas Senate
Campaign website · Julie Dahlberg campaign · juliefortexassenate.com
“Major investment in desalination & regional water supply pipelines”
Proposes repealing laws exempting women from fetal homicide charges.
Priority Issues - Julie Dahlberg for Texas Senate
Campaign website · Julie Dahlberg campaign · juliefortexassenate.com
“repealing the parts of the Penal Code (Sec. 19.06 & 22.12) ... that currently exempt women from fetal homicide prosecution”
Opposes gun restrictions that infringe on Second Amendment rights.
Priority Issues - Julie Dahlberg for Texas Senate
Campaign website · Julie Dahlberg campaign · juliefortexassenate.com
“Oppose gun-grab laws that infringe upon the Second Amendment or deny citizens their right to due process.”
Supports stronger eminent domain protections for landowners.
Priority Issues - Julie Dahlberg for Texas Senate
Campaign website · Julie Dahlberg campaign · juliefortexassenate.com
“Strengthen eminent domain protections & require demonstrated public necessity”

Judith Zaffirini

DemocraticIncumbent

Communication specialist; former educator · Laredo

The gist

Sponsored law on school emergency plans for students with disabilities.In office
Sponsored law protecting patients from certain ambulance billing.In office
Sponsored law revising emergency mental health detention procedures.In office
Sponsored law on college sexual assault resources and orientation.In office
Sponsored law regulating residential solar sales.In office
Sponsored law creating a nuclear energy workforce program.In office

In office = from the candidate's own official statements or legislation as an officeholder, not their campaign.

More about Judith

View sources (1)

Sponsored law on school emergency plans for students with disabilities.
Bills Authored / Joint Authored: Sen. Judith Zaffirini, 89th Legislature Regular Session
Government record · Texas Legislature Online · capitol.texas.gov
“plans by public schools to ensure the safety of individuals with disabilities or impairments during a mandatory school drill or a disaster or emergency situation”
Sponsored law protecting patients from certain ambulance billing.
Bills Authored / Joint Authored: Sen. Judith Zaffirini, 89th Legislature Regular Session
Government record · Texas Legislature Online · capitol.texas.gov
“Relating to consumer protections against certain medical and health care billing by emergency medical services providers.”
Sponsored law revising emergency mental health detention procedures.
Bills Authored / Joint Authored: Sen. Judith Zaffirini, 89th Legislature Regular Session
Government record · Texas Legislature Online · capitol.texas.gov
“Relating to emergency detention of certain persons evidencing mental illness and to court-ordered inpatient and extended mental health services.”
Sponsored law on college sexual assault resources and orientation.
Bills Authored / Joint Authored: Sen. Judith Zaffirini, 89th Legislature Regular Session
Government record · Texas Legislature Online · capitol.texas.gov
“sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking resources and policy orientation”
Sponsored law regulating residential solar sales.
Bills Authored / Joint Authored: Sen. Judith Zaffirini, 89th Legislature Regular Session
Government record · Texas Legislature Online · capitol.texas.gov
“Relating to the regulation of residential solar retail transactions; requiring an occupational registration”
Sponsored law creating a nuclear energy workforce program.
Bills Authored / Joint Authored: Sen. Judith Zaffirini, 89th Legislature Regular Session
Government record · Texas Legislature Online · capitol.texas.gov
“Relating to the establishment by the Texas Workforce Commission of an advanced nuclear energy workforce development program.”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 8 issues covered in this race.