Judith Pappas Zaffirini is a Democrat representing Texas Senate District 21, which spans 16 counties from Laredo on the Texas-Mexico border through the Rio Grande Valley, Winter Garden, and into Central Texas counties like Travis, Hays, and Caldwell. A Laredo native and descendant of the city's founder, she is the first Mexican American woman elected to the Texas Senate in 1986 and became the first woman Dean of the Senate on December 31, 2023, succeeding 24 men. Notable achievements include passing over 1,500 bills—the most in Texas history—casting 76,843 consecutive votes since 1987 , and securing bipartisan successes like 136 bills in the 2025 Republican-dominated session. She has earned over 1,100 awards, including induction into the Texas Women’s Hall of Fame in 2019, and recognition as one of the "Top 100 Most Influential Hispanics" by Hispanic Business.

Education and Political Experience

• Education: B.S., M.A., and Ph.D. from The University of Texas at Austin; additional studies at University of Houston and Laredo Junior College. She is an award-winning communications specialist with 13 years of teaching experience at college and university levels, owning Zaffirini Communications.
• Political Experience: Elected in 1986 alongside Eddie Bernice Johnson as the 7th and 8th women state senators; re-elected in 11 landslide victories, most recently in 2022; second in Senate seniority since 2007; serves on committees including Natural Resources, Economic Development, State Affairs, Higher Education, and Local Government; key legislative wins include child immunizations, drunk driver license suspensions, blocking radioactive waste sites, stopping colonias, and Medicaid/welfare reforms.