Judith Zaffirini

Occupation: Communications Specialist; 13 years of teaching experience Education: The University of Texas at Austin, B.S., M.A., Ph.D.; University of Houston; Laredo Junior College Legislative Experience: Senate Member: 1987 - present Hometown: Laredo Party: Democrat Senator Judith Zaffirini, the first Mexican American woman elected to the Texas Senate, became the first woman Dean of the Senate on Dec. 31, 2023. She succeeds 24 men who held the title since 1909, when it was first assigned to the longest-serving senator. One of only 25 women who have served with 954 male senators in 89 Texas Legislatures, in 1986 she and Eddie Bernice Johnson became the 7th women state senators in Texas. They joined Cyndi Krier in 1987, marking the first time more than one woman served in the 31-member body. Dean Zaffirini’s legendary work ethic is reflected in her having cast 76,843 consecutive votes since 1987 and passing 1,524 bills, making her the highest bill-passer in the history of the State of Texas. Showing her bipartisan effectiveness, in the 2025 Republican-dominated Texas Legislature she passed 136 bills, making her the highest bill-passing legislator for six consecutive sessions. Dean…