Judith Zaffirini
1987 - Present
2027
38
Judith Zaffirini (Democratic Party) is a member of the Texas State Senate, representing District 21. She assumed office in 1987. Her current term ends on January 11, 2027.
Zaffirini (Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the Texas State Senate to represent District 21. She won in the general election on November 8, 2022.
Biography
Zaffirini has Bachelor's, Master's and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Texas at Austin. She also studied at Laredo Community College and the University of Houston.
She has worked as a teacher in higher education for over 13 years. She has been honored by the South Texas Press Association for her work in journalism. She owns her own business, Zaffirini Communications.
Zaffirini has been recognized for her near perfect attendance in session. She served as vice-chair of the Texas Democratic Party from 1984-1986, prior to making a (successful) run for the Democratic Party nomination for state Senate in 1986.
Committee assignments
Note: This membership information was last updated in September 2023. Ballotpedia completes biannual updates of committee membership. If you would like to send us an update, email us at:editor@ballotpedia.org.
2023-2024
Zaffirini was assigned to the following committees:
- Business & Commerce Committee
- Committee of the Whole Senate
- Finance Committee
- Natural Resources and Economic Development Committee, Vice Chair
- Special Committee on Redistricting
- Senate State Affairs Committee
2021-2022
Zaffirini was assigned to the following committees:
- Senate Higher Education Committee
- Local Government Committee
- Natural Resources and Economic Development Committee, Vice chair
- Senate State Affairs Committee
2019-2020
Zaffirini was assigned to the following committees:
- Administration Committee
- Business & Commerce Committee
- Natural Resources and Economic Development Committee, Vice-Chair
- Senate State Affairs Committee
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Texas committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Administration |
| • Business & Commerce |
| • Natural Resources and Economic Development, Vice chair |
| • State Affairs |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Zaffirini served on the following committees:
| Texas committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Agriculture, Water and Rural Affairs, Vice-Chair |
| • Natural Resources and Economic Development |
| • Health & Human Services |
| • State Affairs |
2013-2014
In the 2013-2014 legislative session, Zaffirini served on the following committees:
| Texas committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Administration |
| • Finance |
| • Government Organization, Chair |
| • Health & Human Services |
| • Higher Education |
| • Joint Committee on Oversight of Higher Ed Governance, Excellence & Transparency, Vice Chair |
Chair removal
In October 2012, Lieutenant Governor of Texas David Dewhurst removed Zaffirini from her position as chair of the Higher Education committee. She was replaced by Kel Seliger (R). She was made chair of the Committee on Government Organization. Zaffirini had been critical of the University of Texas System Board of Regents and at odds with Governor of Texas Rick Perry. "I'm disappointed in not being higher education chair, because that is my passion and it is one of the reasons that I ran. However, that is an immediate reaction. I am not disheartened." A Dewhurst spokesperson said the realigning had to do with putting "members' talents to where they would be best aligned."[1][2]
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Zaffirini served on the following Texas Senate committees:
| Texas committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Higher Education, Chair |
| • Administration |
| • Economic Development |
| • Finance |
| • Health & Human Services |
| • Joint Committee on Oversight of HHS Eligibility System |
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Zaffirini served on the following Texas Senate committees:
| Texas committee assignments, 2009 |
|---|
| • Higher Education |
| • Administration |
| • Economic Development |
| • Finance |
| • Health & Human Services |
Issues
University of Texas
- See also: Wallace Hall impeachment trial
After he was appointed in 2011, University of Texas Regent Wallace Hall began looking into what he believed to be clout scandals within the University of Texas system. Hall investigated the university's forgivable-loans program, admissions policies and preferential treatment to politically-connected individuals.[3] Hall, as an individual citizen, filed FOIA requests with the University system after his inquiries via his role as a Regent were rebuffed.[4] According to his accusers, Hall filed requests of more than 800,000 pages, which some Texas administrators called an unnecessary burden.[5][6] However, a letter from University chancellor Francisco Cigarroa in February 2014 said that Hall likely requested fewer than 100,000 pages.[7][8] In addition, Cigarroa wrote: "During testimony before the Select Committee, some early witnesses implied that the U.T. System has not protected the privacy rights of students, staff, and patients. This is simply not true."[9]
An effort was begun in June 2013 to try and impeach Hall from his position as regent. Some legislators are justifying the impeachment on the grounds that Hall did not disclose several lawsuits that he was involved in when he originally completed his Regent background check. Hall updated Governor Rick Perry's office in April 2013 with the full list.[10][11] No unelected official in Texas has ever been successfully impeached or removed from office.[12] Governor of Texas Rick Perry's spokesperson said the investigations send a "chilling message" to gubernatorial appointees.[13] He added that the investigation was "extraordinary political theater."[14] Texas state legislators have never previously tried to remove an appointed official. Only two elected officials in the history of Texas have ever been successfully impeached.[15]
In November 2013 it was revealed that one of the letters Hall subpoenaed was sent by Zaffirini to University of Texas Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa. According to a public records request filed by Watchdog.org, the letter was sent on December 3, 2010 to Cigarroa on behalf of an applicant to the University of Texas School of Law. In his response, Cigarroa wrote, "I will convey your strong recommendation to President Bill Powers. I can assure you that he will receive careful consideration." The standard process is to send letters recommending applicants to the Law School Admissions Council.[16]
University of Texas Law School
Senator Zaffirini was implicated in a Texas Watchdog December 2013 report on political favoritism at the University of Texas. Zaffirini's son Carlos Manuel Zaffirini Jr., along with two other sons of Texas state lawmakers, failed the Texas bar exam repeatedly after graduating from the University of Texas Law School. This was unusual for University of Texas Law School graduates, as less than 10 percent had to retake the exam in the eight years prior to 2013. State Senator John Carona (R) and State Representative Jim Pitts (R) were also implicated in the report, as their sons had similar difficulties. The report found that between the three lawmakers' sons, they had taken the bar exam 10 times -- with only two passing the exam. The report was released following months of investigations into University Regent Wallace Hall and his FOIA requests of the University system. Hall implied that there were issues of clout and corruption within the Texas school system, alleging that legislators were using their political influence to affect law school admissions. The Watchdog report was issued following its investigation, which it said did not include details from Hall's FOIA requests.[17]
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2022
See also: Texas State Senate elections, 2022
General election
General election for Texas State Senate District 21
Incumbent Judith Zaffirini defeated Julie Dahlberg and Arthur DiBianca in the general election for Texas State Senate District 21 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Judith Zaffirini (D) | 61.6 | 129,832 | |
| Julie Dahlberg (R) | 35.9 | 75,799 | ||
| Arthur DiBianca (L) | 2.5 | 5,282 | ||
| Total votes: 210,913 | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Texas State Senate District 21
Incumbent Judith Zaffirini advanced from the Democratic primary for Texas State Senate District 21 on March 1, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Judith Zaffirini | 100.0 | 47,076 | |
| Total votes: 47,076 | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Texas State Senate District 21
Julie Dahlberg advanced from the Republican primary for Texas State Senate District 21 on March 1, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Julie Dahlberg | 100.0 | 24,855 | |
| Total votes: 24,855 | ||||
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Libertarian convention
Libertarian convention for Texas State Senate District 21
Arthur DiBianca advanced from the Libertarian convention for Texas State Senate District 21 on March 19, 2022.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | Arthur DiBianca (L) | |
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Campaign finance
2020
See also: Texas State Senate elections, 2020
General election
General election for Texas State Senate District 21
Incumbent Judith Zaffirini defeated Frank Pomeroy in the general election for Texas State Senate District 21 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Judith Zaffirini (D) | 60.1 | 167,672 | |
| Frank Pomeroy (R) | 39.9 | 111,142 | ||
| Total votes: 278,814 | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Texas State Senate District 21
Incumbent Judith Zaffirini advanced from the Democratic primary for Texas State Senate District 21 on March 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Judith Zaffirini | 100.0 | 70,443 | |
| Total votes: 70,443 | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Texas State Senate District 21
Frank Pomeroy advanced from the Republican primary for Texas State Senate District 21 on March 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Frank Pomeroy | 100.0 | 29,774 | |
| Total votes: 29,774 | ||||
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Campaign finance
2016
- See also: Texas State Senate elections, 2016
Elections for the Texas State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election was held on March 1, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was December 14, 2015.[18]
Incumbent Judith Zaffirini ran unopposed in the Texas State Senate District 21 general election.[19]
| Texas State Senate, District 21 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Judith Zaffirini Incumbent (unopposed) |
100.00% | 160,959 | |
| Total Votes | 160,959 | |||
| Source: Texas Secretary of State | ||||
Incumbent Judith Zaffirini ran unopposed in the Texas State Senate District 21 Democratic Primary.[20][21]
| Texas State Senate, District 21 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | Judith Zaffirini Incumbent (unopposed) | |
2012
- See also: Texas State Senate elections, 2012
Zaffirini won re-election in the 2012 election for Texas State Senate, District 21. Zaffirini ran unopposed in the May 29 primary election and won re-election in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[22]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Judith Zaffirini Incumbent |
67.6% | 129,894 | |
| Republican | Grant Rostig | 29.2% | 56,032 | |
| Libertarian | Joseph Morse | 3.2% | 6,147 | |
| Total Votes | 192,073 | |||
2008
On Nov. 4, 2008, Zaffirini won re-election to the 21st District Seat in the Texas State Senate, defeating opponents Louis Bruni and Barry Allison.[22]
Zaffirini raised $1,944,621 for her campaign while Bruni raised $153,275 and Allison raised $0.[23]
| Texas State Senate, District 21, General Election, 2008 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Judith Zaffirini Incumbent |
68.2% | 129,802 | |
| Republican | Louis Bruni | 29.2% | 55,480 | |
| Libertarian | Barry Allison | 2.6% | 4,980 | |
| Total Votes | 190,262 | |||
Campaign themes
2022
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Judith Zaffirini did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
Judith Zaffirini did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Noteworthy events
Correctional facility firm
Zaffirini's business and personal connections were called into question in 2008 and 2009 by several Texas news websites.[24] The story remarked on Sen. Zaffirini's husband's work with the GEO Group, a private firm that ran over a dozen correctional facilities in Texas. Carlos Zaffirini defended the GEO Group when a county in her district considered suspending water and sewer service to their facilities on account of the company's reputation.[25] Zaffirini, as a state senator, had power over state contracts, including the multi-million dollar contract with the GEO Group.[26][27]
State Rep. Rene Oliveira (D-Brownsville) also reportedly had financial ties to GEO and a possible conflict of interest. According to Texas Watchdog,
| “ | Critics say Zaffirini and Oliveira, because of their personal ties to the company, should recuse themselves from prison-related votes. But Zaffirini says she would vote on the private-prison measures, and that her legislative aides have no knowledge of her husband's work.[25][28] | ” |
Inheritance dispute
Zaffirini and her husband, Carlos, were involved in a dispute over the estates of sisters Josefina Alexander Gonzalez and Delfina Alexander (who died in January 2008). Rocio Gonzalez Guerra, Gonzalez's daughter, and her two children stood to inherit an estimated $150 million fortune when Gonzalez passes, amassed in the form of a series of business partnerships, estates and trusts established by Gonzalez and Alexander. The Zaffirinis and their associates, however, controlled Alexander's estate, as well as a trust she established in her will. Further, the Zaffirinis contended that they had power of attorney of Gonzalez's affairs, though Gonzalez's bank barred the Zaffirinis from accessing her accounts because the papers establishing the Zaffirinis' power of attorney were signed shortly before Gonzalez was found to be mentally incompetent.[29][30]
Zaffirini, Clarissa Chapa and David Arredondo were named the executors of Alexander's estate. Though the typical probate case could have taken anywhere from six months to a year and a half to settle, Alexander's estate remained open as of December 2013 -- more than five years after her death. Substantially all of Alexander's estate was willed to Guerra, who was named 122 times in the will, and her children. After paying final medical bills and funeral expenses, Zaffirini, Chapa and Arredondo paid themselves hundreds of thousands of dollars in the form of executor and legal fees over the course of three years. In 2011, the executors made 11 bequests totaling approximately $140,000. Throughout 2012, Zaffirini and the other executors continued to receive monthly fees of $2,500 per executor. All told, Zaffirini, Chapa and Arredondo had drawn more than $400,000 from the estate since Alexander's death, according to court records.[29]
Also in dispute was a family trust, intended for Guerra and her children. In the summer of 2006, Guerra's husband, Vidal, who had been managing the businesses that fund the trust, was accused of mismanagement (e.g., paying himself large, unauthorized commissions on land sales, using business assets as collateral on a home loan). A falling out between sisters Gonzalez and Alexander and the Guerras resulted, and the sisters signed a series of documents making significant changes to their businesses, wills, trusts and powers of attorney, positioning the Zaffirinis as the controlling agents in the businesses that formed the assets of the family trust.[29] The Zaffirinis did not control the trust itself. After the original trustee of the family trust, Adolph E. Puig, resigned, the court appointed Raymond DeLeon to replace him. DeLeon contended that the Zaffirinis and their associates had been transferring business profits to Alexander's estate, from which they have continued to collect fees, rather than to the family trust.[29] Further, DeLeon claimed the Zaffirinis forged an amendment to the trust agreement that would prevent Guerra and her representatives from wresting back control of the family's business interests. Carlos Zaffirini said that the trust was amended in 2007. However, in a prior deposition, Carlos Zaffirini questioned Vidal Guerra and said that the trust document could not be amended or changed, as it was "irrevocable."[29]
To date, the conflict manifested in no fewer than three related lawsuits, decisions on which were pending as of January 2014.[29][30]
During a two-day hearing held in early January 2014, Zaffirini took the stand and denied any wrongdoing in the matter, arguing that she was acting in the best interests of Guerra. Zaffirini testified that, in her role as a chief administrator of the business interests that fund the disputed trust, she endeavored to protect the estate from Guerra's husband, Vidal. Zaffirini alleged that the Guerras' marriage was a sham, a scheme by Vidal to wrest control of the family fortune from his wife. To support this claim, Zaffirni pointed to the aforementioned claims of mismanagement leveled against Vidal Guerra, as well as unsubstantiated rumors about Vidal's sexuality. "People told us he was only interested in [Rocio Guerra] for the money, that he would seek to gain control of the companies. They told us he could not be possibly be interested in her because he was gay," said Zaffirini. Further, attorney Chris Heinrichs served as an expert witness on behalf of the Zaffirinis at the same hearing and told the court that the fees collected by Zaffirini and her associates were significantly smaller than those charged by a professional trustee.[31]
Meanwhile, attorney Jeffrey Knebel, representing Guerra, noted that Zaffirini had not disclosed the $140,000 she had earned in executor fees on her required personal financial statements, which as a state senator she must submit annually.[31]
As of April 2016, the matter was still in court.[32]
Scorecards
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Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Texas scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2024
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In 2024, the Texas State Legislature was not in session. |
2023
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In 2023, the Texas State Legislature was in session from January 10 to May 29.
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2022
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In 2022, the Texas State Legislature was not in session. |
2021
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In 2021, the Texas State Legislature was in session from January 12 to May 31.
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2020
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In 2020, the Texas State Legislature was not in session. |
2019
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In 2019, the Texas State Legislature was in its 86th legislative session from January 8 through May 27.
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2018
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In 2018, the Texas State Legislature did not hold a regular session. |
2017
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In 2017, the Texas State Legislature was in its 85th legislative session from January 10 through May 29. A special session was held from July 18 to August 15.
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2016
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In 2016, the Texas State Legislature did not hold a regular session. |
2015
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In 2015, the Texas State Legislature was in its 84th legislative session from January 13 through June 1.
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2014
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In 2014, the Texas State Legislature did not hold a regular session. |
2013
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In 2013, the Texas State Legislature was in its 83rd legislative session from January 8 through May 27. Thirty minutes after the regular session ended, Governor Rick Perry called legislators back for a special session starting that evening.[33] Two additional called sessions were held from July 1 through July 30 and July 30 through August 5.[34]
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2012
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In 2012, the Texas State Legislature did not hold a regular session. |
2011
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In 2011, the Texas State Legislature was in its 82nd legislative session from January 11 through May 30. A special session was called for May 31 through June 29.[34]
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Empower Texans
Empower Texans produces the Fiscal Responsibility Index as "a measurement of how lawmakers perform on size and role of government issues." The index uses "exemplar votes on core budget and free enterprise issues that demonstrate legislators' governing philosophy."[35] Legislators were graded along a 0 through 100 scale in 2013 and on an A through F grading scale in 2011.
2013
Zaffirini received a score of 31.5 in the 2013 Fiscal Responsibility Index.
2011
Zaffirini received a grade of F on the 2011 Fiscal Responsibility Index.
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Zaffirini is married to Carlos M. Zaffirini, a Laredo attorney. They have one son, Carlos Jr., who is also an attorney.
Scholarship
A scholarship named after Zaffirini was endowed by her son Carlos Jr. in 2012. The scholarship was given her name as recognition for a long-term commitment to affordable college education. The scholarship targets high school seniors in southern Texas, specifically from Webb, Starr and Zapata counties. This scholarship is managed by Texas Exes, the official University of Texas alumni group. Both Judith and Carlos graduated with multiple degrees from the University of Texas.[36]
See also
2022 Elections
External links
|
Candidate Texas State Senate District 21 |
Officeholder Texas State Senate District 21 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Texas Tribune, "Ousted From Chair, Zaffirini Keeps Eye on Colleges," October 4, 2012
- ↑ Texas Tribune, "Tension University Texas," accessed December 10, 2013
- ↑ American Spectator, "Transparency for Thee," October 25, 2013
- ↑ Daily Texas Online, "Facing impeachment, Regent Wallace Hall defends actions in debate with Sen. Kirk Watson," September 28, 2013
- ↑ Daily Texas Online, "Former UT System vice chancellor alleges Regent Wallace Hall’s ‘clear intent to get rid of Bill Powers’," October 24, 2013
- ↑ Dallas Morning News, "UT regent sought 800,000 documents, official says in impeachment hearing," October 22, 2013
- ↑ Watchdog, "‘Witch hunt’ fallout: Speaker calls for narrower public records law," February 5, 2014
- ↑ Texas Tribune, "UT System Responds to Transparency Committee Directives," February 3, 2014
- ↑ Texas Tribune, "Cigarroa letter to the Committee on Transparency in State Agency Operations," February 1, 2014
- ↑ Texas Tribune, "UT Regent Wallace Hall Updates Lawsuit Disclosures," April 30, 2013
- ↑ Real Clear Policy, "The Campaign Against Wallace Hall," August 15, 2013
- ↑ News-Journal, "University of Texas regent not worried by impeachment inquiry," September 9, 2013
- ↑ Texas Tribune, "Transparency Committee to Mull Impeachment of UT Regent," June 25, 2013
- ↑ Texas Tribune, "Perry Blasts Impeachment Probe of Wallace Hall," October 30, 2013
- ↑ Texas Public Radio, "UT Regent Wallace Hall Will Testify In Impeachment Hearing," November 13, 2013
- ↑ Watchdog.org, "Longhorns: Senator used clout in UT law school admissions," November 13, 2013
- ↑ Texas Watchdog, "Children of Texas lawmakers get into UT School of Law, but struggle to pass bar exam," December 18, 2013
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "Important 2016 Election Dates," accessed December 14, 2015
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "2016 General Election," accessed December 2, 2016
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "2016 March Primary Election Candidate Filings by County," accessed August 22, 2016
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "1992 - Current Election History results," accessed August 22, 2016
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 Texas Secretary of State, "1992 - Current Election History," accessed February 17, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "2008 Candidate funds," accessed May 24, 2014
- ↑ Texas Prison Bid'ness, "Senator Judith Zaffarini Accepts GEO Group Money for Re-Election Campaign," accessed November 13, 2015
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 Texas Watchdog, "Lawmakers’ relatives work for GEO Group prison co. as state weighs clamp-down on embattled firm "
- ↑ Laredo Morning Times, "GEO indicted in man's beating death in 2001," October 31, 2008
- ↑ Grits For Breakfast, "Meet the Geo Group: Texas' largest private prison contractor," accessed November 13, 2015
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 29.4 29.5 Watchdog.org - Texas Bureau, "Senate wrestles heir over nine-figure Texas fortune," December 17, 2013
- ↑ 30.0 30.1 San Antonio Express-News, "Zaffirini hit with new lawsuit," July 19, 2013
- ↑ 31.0 31.1 Watchdog.org - Texas Bureau, "Texas senator: Gay embezzler threatens inheritance," January 14, 2014
- ↑ The Supreme Court of Texas blog, "Judith Zaffirini, David H. Arrendondo, and Clarissa N. Chapa, et al. v. Reymond S. DeLeon II, Trustee of the Delfina and Josefina Alexander Family Trust, et al.," accessed December 18, 2015
- ↑ kten.com, "Texas Lawmakers To Tackle Redistricting In Special Session," May 29, 2013
- ↑ 34.0 34.1 Legislative reference Library of Texas, "Texas Legislative Sessions and Years," accessed June 13, 2014
- ↑ Empower Texans, "Fiscal Responsibility Index," accessed February 22, 2014
- ↑ Daily Texan, "Texas Exes scholarship named for Senator Judith Zaffirini," October 31, 2012
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Texas State Senate District 21 1987-Present |
Succeeded by - |
