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.
Taxes & budget
Julie DahlbergRepublican
- Proposes replacing property taxes with a consumption tax.
Judith ZaffiriniDemocratic
No documented position found.
Public safety
Julie DahlbergRepublican
- Opposes gun restrictions that infringe on Second Amendment rights.
Judith ZaffiriniDemocratic
No documented position found.
Education
Julie DahlbergRepublican
- Supports a 20% raise in teacher base pay.
Judith ZaffiriniDemocratic
- Sponsored law on school emergency plans for students with disabilities.In office
- Sponsored law on college sexual assault resources and orientation.In office
Housing
Julie DahlbergRepublican
- Supports stronger eminent domain protections for landowners.
Judith ZaffiriniDemocratic
No documented position found.
Economy & jobs
Julie DahlbergRepublican
No documented position found.
Judith ZaffiriniDemocratic
- Sponsored law creating a nuclear energy workforce program.In office
Environment & parks
Julie DahlbergRepublican
- Supports investment in desalination and regional water pipelines.
Judith ZaffiriniDemocratic
- Sponsored law regulating residential solar sales.In office
Health & human services
Julie DahlbergRepublican
- Proposes repealing laws exempting women from fetal homicide charges.
Judith ZaffiriniDemocratic
- Sponsored law protecting patients from certain ambulance billing.In office
- Sponsored law revising emergency mental health detention procedures.In office
Government & transparency
Julie DahlbergRepublican
- Supports legislative term limits; pledges to serve two terms.
- Proposes precinct-level ballot counting and citizen-run elections.
Judith ZaffiriniDemocratic
No documented position found.
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.