Who is running for State Representative District 45 (Texas House District 45, Texas) in 2026?
Here are the candidates for State Representative District 45 on the November 3, 2026 ballot. This race is on the ballot for voters in Texas House District 45.
Positions come only from each candidate's own votes, official actions, statements and questionnaire answers, never from party labels. Every item links to its source.
Side by side
Each candidate's position on the issues this office handles, from their own record. Details and sources are in each profile below.
| Issue | Tennyson G. MorenoRepublican | Erin ZwienerDemocrat |
|---|---|---|
| Healthcare | No public position | Keep the Affordable Care Act and fix what is brokenSaid · medium |
| Abortion | No public position | Legal in most cases up to viability (about 24 weeks)Said · low |
| Guns | No public position | Add universal background checks and red-flag lawsSaid · medium |
| Energy and climate | No public position | A gradual shift to cleaner energy, driven by incentivesSaid · medium |
| Texas power grid | No public position | Connect more to neighboring grids for backupSaid · medium |
| AI data centers | Allow them case by case, with strict local rules on siting, noise and waterSaid · medium | Allow them case by case, with strict local rules on siting, noise and waterSaid · medium |
| School choice | No public position | No, keep public money in traditional public schoolsSaid · high |
| Curriculum and books | No public position | Keep access broad; removals should be rareSaid · medium |
| Property taxes | Eliminate school property taxes and replace them with sales tax or state moneySaid · medium | Keep cutting them and cap how fast they can riseSaid · high |
| Housing and growth | No public position | Allow townhomes and apartments in more places to bring prices downVoted · low |
| Election rules | No public position | Easier access: automatic registration and mail voting for anyoneSaid · medium |
| Marijuana | No public position | Legalize and regulate it like alcoholSaid · medium |
| Redistricting | No public position | Independent commissions draw maps, with a national ban on partisan gerrymanderingSaid · medium |
| Campaign finance | No public position | Keep today's rules: capped gifts to candidates, unlimited independent spendingSaid · medium |
| Religion in schools | No public position | None from the school: no required displays, prayer periods or Bible lessonsSaid · low |
Tennyson G. Moreno
RepublicanVice-Chair, San Marcos Regional Airport Advisory Board
Tennyson Moreno is a Republican candidate for Texas House District 45 who lives in San Marcos and has a background in aviation, logistics and Texas politics2. He volunteers with the Commemorative Air Force and serves as vice-chair of the Airport Advisory Board for the San Marcos Regional Airport2. He challenged incumbent Democrat Erin Zwiener in 2024 and lost, and is on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot against her again13.
Where they stand 2 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
Property taxesEliminate school property taxes and replace them with sales tax or state moneymedium
Said · medium confidence- In an August 2026 Community Impact Q&A he said cutting government spending, cutting taxes and eliminating property taxes would put more money in homeowners' pockets. (2026-08-24) source
AI data centersAllow them case by case, with strict local rules on siting, noise and watermedium
Said · medium confidence- In an August 2026 Community Impact Q&A he said each community should decide what development fits its needs, and that the state should remove tax breaks and incentives for data centers that use open-loop water systems. (2026-08-24) source
No public position found on: Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Healthcare, Abortion, Guns, Immigration, Energy and climate, Texas power grid, School choice, Curriculum and books, Housing and growth, Policing and crime, Election rules, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Marijuana, Gender care for minors, Redistricting, Term limits, Campaign finance, Electoral College, Ranked-choice voting, Death penalty, Qualified immunity, Mandatory minimums, Drug prices, Childcare and pre-K, Paid leave, Student loans, AI regulation, Kids online, School vaccines, Nuclear power, E-Verify mandate, Transgender athletes, DEI programs, Religion in schools, China policy.
Erin Zwiener
Democrat · IncumbentTexas State Representative, District 45 (Hays County)
Erin Zwiener is a Democrat who has represented Texas House District 45, which covers the I-35 corridor in Hays County, since January 201925. She describes herself as a conservationist and educator and founded the Texas Energy and Climate Caucus45. She is seeking a fifth term on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot against Republican Tennyson G. Moreno1.
Where they stand 16 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
Property taxesKeep cutting them and cap how fast they can risehigh
Said · high confidence- Her campaign site says the 2023 session delivered nearly $13 billion of property tax relief through a higher homestead exemption, lower school tax rates and appraisal caps on non-homestead property, and that the state should pay at least 50 percent of public school costs. (2026) source
- Was listed as the author of HJR 6 (2021, second called session), a proposed constitutional amendment to increase the school district homestead exemption. (2021) source
- Was listed as a House cosponsor of SJR 2 (2025), a proposed constitutional amendment to increase the residence homestead exemption. (2025) source
School choiceNo, keep public money in traditional public schoolshigh
Said · high confidence- Her campaign site opposes school vouchers, saying they would defund neighborhood public schools, and says she will keep fighting for public schools. (2026) source
- Voted yes on the Raney amendment (Amendment No. 2) to HB 1 (2023, fourth called session), which struck Article 6 from the bill; Article 6 of the committee report is the education savings account program that could pay for private school. The amendment was adopted 84 to 63. (2023-11-17) source
MarijuanaLegalize and regulate it like alcoholmedium
Said · medium confidence- Her campaign site says cannabis should be made legal for medical and recreational use in Texas, in a regulated market where buyers must prove their age. (2026) source
- Is listed as the author of HB 441 (2021), which reduced the criminal penalty for possessing small amounts of marijuana; it passed the House 88 to 40. (2021-04-30) source
- Voted yes on HB 218 (2023), which reduced criminal penalties for possessing small amounts of marijuana; it passed the House 87 to 59. (2023-04-27) source
GunsAdd universal background checks and red-flag lawsmedium
Said · medium confidence- Her campaign site says she supports closing background check loopholes and safe storage rules, raising the purchase age for assault-style weapons to 21, and restricting large magazines; it describes her as a Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate. (2026) source
- Was listed as a House coauthor of HB 131 (2019), relating to extreme risk protective orders and the offense of unlawful transfer of a firearm. (2019) source
Texas power gridConnect more to neighboring grids for backupmedium
Said · medium confidence- Her campaign site says she is a leader in the House on updating the aging electrical grid, establishing more interconnection with neighboring grids, and investing in energy efficiency. (2026) source
Energy and climateA gradual shift to cleaner energy, driven by incentivesmedium
Said · medium confidence- Her campaign site says she founded and chairs the Texas Energy and Climate Caucus and works to remove barriers to battery storage, green hydrogen, carbon capture and electric vehicles to speed decarbonization. (2026) source
AI data centersAllow them case by case, with strict local rules on siting, noise and watermedium
Said · medium confidence- In an August 2026 Community Impact Q&A she said her priorities on data centers are ending tax incentives, strong regulations on water, energy use and noise, and giving counties authority to say no to industrial developments. (2026-08-24) source
Campaign financeKeep today's rules: capped gifts to candidates, unlimited independent spendingmedium
Said · medium confidenceElection rulesEasier access: automatic registration and mail voting for anyonemedium
Said · medium confidence- Her campaign site says she has carried legislation to add student IDs to acceptable voter ID and supports online and same-day voter registration and mail-in ballots for all Texans. (2026) source
- Was listed as the author of HB 1003 (2025), relating to acceptable forms of identification for voting. (2025) source
RedistrictingIndependent commissions draw maps, with a national ban on partisan gerrymanderingmedium
Said · medium confidence- Her campaign site says legislators should not draw district maps and calls for a constitutional amendment creating an independent redistricting commission. (2026) source
HealthcareKeep the Affordable Care Act and fix what is brokenmedium
Said · medium confidenceCurriculum and booksKeep access broad; removals should be raremedium
Said · medium confidence- Her campaign site says librarians and teachers are being bullied into removing books and that she supports inclusive education for every Texas student. (2026) source
AbortionLegal in most cases up to viability (about 24 weeks)low
Religion in schoolsNone from the school: no required displays, prayer periods or Bible lessonslow
Said · low confidence- In an August 2026 Community Impact Q&A she listed strengthening the separation of church and state among her top priorities. (2026-08-24) source
Housing and growthAllow townhomes and apartments in more places to bring prices downlow
Death penaltyNo single answer fitsmedium
Official action · medium confidence- Was listed as a House coauthor of HB 140 (2021), relating to the applicability of the death penalty to a capital offense committed by a person with severe mental illness. (2021) source
No public position found on: Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Immigration, Policing and crime, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Gender care for minors, Term limits, Electoral College, Ranked-choice voting, Qualified immunity, Mandatory minimums, Drug prices, Childcare and pre-K, Paid leave, Student loans, AI regulation, Kids online, School vaccines, Nuclear power, E-Verify mandate, Transgender athletes, DEI programs, China policy.
Last reviewed 2026-10-06. Spotted something wrong? Every claim links to its source so you can check it yourself.