Voting is underway in Texas House District 45, a rematch between Democratic State Rep. Erin Zwiener seeking a fifth term and Republican Tennyson Moreno making his second run. Both candidates propose different approaches to rapid population growth and infrastructure challenges in Hays County.
Erin ZwienerState Rep., Democratic candidate for Texas House District 45
Tennyson MorenoRepublican candidate for Texas House District 45
The facts
Zwiener defeated Moreno by 13.5 percentage points in 2024.1
Moreno was 24 in 2024 and was among the youngest candidates running for the Texas Legislature.1
Hays County population grew from 241,000 in 2020 to 304,390 in 2025, a 26.3% increase.1
Texas House District 45 is contained entirely within Hays County, covering 84% of its population.1
Zwiener voted against a 2025 bill to ban THC products.1
Gov. Greg Abbott vetoed the 2025 THC ban bill and later ordered stricter state health department rules banning smokable hemp products.1
Moreno is a licensed pilot, vice chair of the San Marcos Airport Advisory Board, and works as marketing and outreach specialist for the Texas Veterans Land Board.1
Who said what
These are statements and claims made by the people involved. They are reported, not verified.
Erin Zwiener The Legislature should give counties more power over development, including authority to reject projects.1
Erin Zwiener Nobody can say no to a new development in Hays County regardless of road or water supply conditions.1
Tennyson Moreno Growth without infrastructure is one of the district's biggest challenges.1
Tennyson Moreno Supports continued research into desalination and manufactured water, and incentives for low-cost starter homes.1
Erin Zwiener Supports full legalization of cannabis and broader efforts toward that goal.1
These outlets were found through Google News headlines. Google decides which outlets appear there, and they lean mostly one way, so this sheet can only be as balanced as the reporting it was built from. Leanings are AllSides Media Bias Ratings.
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James Talarico, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate; Ken Paxton, Republican Attorney General, candidate for U.S. Senate; Ted Brown, Libertarian candidate for U.S. Senate and 2 more
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Donald Trump, President, campaigning for Republican Ken Paxton; James Talarico, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate; Ken Paxton, Republican incumbent U.S. Senator seeking reelection and 1 more
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Donald Trump, President; Rep. Abe Hamadeh, U.S. Representative, Arizona, Republican
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Texas Retired Teachers Association, Organization encouraging member participation; Texas Secretary of State, Election official providing voting information
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Donald Trump, President; Ken Paxton, Republican Senate candidate; James Talarico, Democratic Senate candidate and 1 more
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$$25 million for black voter outreach initiative
James Talarico, Texas state representative and Democratic U.S. Senate candidate; Ken Paxton, State Attorney General and Republican U.S. Senate candidate; Jolanda Jones, Democratic state representative, predominantly Black district in Houston and 2 more
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Transgender Education Network of Texas (TENT), LGBTQ+ youth advocacy group whose name and content were used in unauthorized texts and mailers; Mimi Marziani, Austin attorney representing TENT; Garrett Fulce, Republican political consultant and 2 more
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Ken Paxton, U.S. Senate nominee, Republican; James Talarico, U.S. Senate candidate, Democrat; Liz Slack, Collin County voter