John Zerwas
John Zerwas is a former Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives, representing District 28 from 2007 to 2019. His retirement became effective on September 30, 2019.
Biography
After graduating the University of Houston, Zerwas earned his doctorate in medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in 1980 and started a full-time private practice in 1985. Before retiring from the Texas House of Representatives, Zerwas also worked as the chief medical officer for the Memorial Hermann Healthcare System and as a physician. He also served as an initiator for the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 1656, as deacon/founder of the First Colony Church of Christ, and as president of a homeowners association.[1]
Committee assignments
2019-2020
Zerwas was assigned to the following committees:
- Appropriations Committee, Chair
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Texas committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Appropriations, Chair |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Zerwas served on the following committees:
| Texas committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Higher Education, Chair |
| • Public Health |
2013-2014
In the 2013-2014 legislative session, Zerwas served on the following committees:
| Texas committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Appropriations |
| • General Investigating & Ethics, Chair |
| • Human Services |
2011-2012
Zerwas served on the following Texas House of Representatives committees:
| Texas committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Appropriations |
| • Calendars |
| • Public Health |
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
2018
General election
General election for Texas House of Representatives District 28
Incumbent John Zerwas defeated Meghan Scoggins in the general election for Texas House of Representatives District 28 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | John Zerwas (R) | 54.2 | 44,414 |
 | Meghan Scoggins (D) | 45.8 | 37,584 | |
| Total votes: 81,998 | |||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Texas House of Representatives District 28
Meghan Scoggins defeated Durward White in the Democratic primary for Texas House of Representatives District 28 on March 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Meghan Scoggins | 81.0 | 5,224 |
| Durward White | 19.0 | 1,225 | ||
| Total votes: 6,449 | |||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Texas House of Representatives District 28
Incumbent John Zerwas advanced from the Republican primary for Texas House of Representatives District 28 on March 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | John Zerwas | 100.0 | 9,739 |
| Total votes: 9,739 | |||
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2016
Elections for the Texas House of Representatives 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.[2]
Incumbent John Zerwas ran unopposed in the Texas House of Representatives District 28 general election.[3]
| Texas House of Representatives, District 28 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  John Zerwas Incumbent (unopposed) |
100.00% | 56,822 | |
| Total Votes | 56,822 | |||
| Source: Texas Secretary of State | ||||
Incumbent John Zerwas ran unopposed in the Texas House of Representatives District 28 Republican Primary.[4][5]
| Texas House of Representatives, District 28 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican | John Zerwas Incumbent (unopposed) | |
2014
Elections for all 150 seats in the Texas House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on March 4, 2014. Those candidates who did not receive 50 percent or more of the vote in their party primary on March 4 faced an additional May 27 primary runoff. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was December 9, 2013. Incumbent John Zerwas was unopposed in the Republican primary and was unchallenged in the general election.[6][7][8]
2012
Zerwas ran in the 2012 election for Texas House of Representatives, District 28. Zerwas ran unopposed in the May 29 primary election. He was unchallenged in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[9]
2010
Zerwas won re-election to the 28th District seat, defeating Democratic candidate Wayne Raasch in the general election on November 6, 2012.[9] He had no opposition in the March 2nd primary.
| Texas House of Representatives, District 28 2010 General election results | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| John Zerwas (R)
|
44,094 | 71.43% | ||
| Wayne Raasch (D) | 17,628 | 28.56% | ||
2008
On November 4, 2008, Zerwas won re-election to the Texas House of Representatives from Texas' 28th District, defeating Dorothy Bottos (D) and M. Stephen Lucas (L).[9]
Zerwas raised $345,950 for his campaign while Bottos raised $12,531 and Lucas raised $0.[10]
| Texas House of Representatives, District 28 (2008) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| John Zerwas (R)
|
50,824 | |||
| Dorothy Bottos (D) | 32,089 | |||
| M. Stephen Lucas (L) | 1,484 | |||
2006
On November 4, 2006, Zerwas won election to the Texas House of Representatives from Texas' 28th District, defeating Dorothy Bottos (D). [9]
Zerwas raised $476,035 for his campaign while Bottos raised $23,370.[11]
| Texas House of Representatives, District 28 (2006) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| John Zerwas (R)
|
50,824 | |||
| Dorothy Bottos (D) | 32,089 | |||
Campaign themes
2012
Zerwas' website highlighted the following campaign themes:
- Lower Property taxes - "I will work to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot that will limit [property tax] increases to 5 percent a year."
- Quality Education - "I will press for further reform to ensure that additional money goes into the classroom, not the bureaucracy, and that students are taught the basics."
- Immigration Control - "Due to the federal government's failure to secure our border, we expanded state efforts to cut off common crossing areas, implemented new technology to identify where the leaks are and increased penalties on employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants. I support increased efforts in all these areas and more, including laws that require photo ID at the polls and prevent illegal immigrants from getting Texas driver's licenses."
- Property rights - "I strongly supported the Republican-led efforts that limited the government's power under eminent domain to take a person's property for private development and enacted a Landowner's Bill of Rights that protects land owners from abusive government practices."
- Government spending - "We must limit government's ability to grow faster than the combined rates of inflation and population growth, ensure greater transparency in budgeting and spending, and prevent revenue raised from a specific tax from being used on anything other than its intended purpose."
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.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Texas State Legislature in 2025.
- Club for Growth Foundation — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to economic issues.
- Sierra Club Texas — Legislators are scored on their votes on environmental issues.
- Texans for Fiscal Responsibility — Legislators are scored based by the organization on their votes on bills relating to "core budget and free enterprise issues."
- Texans Uniting for Reform & Freedom — Legislators are scored based on their votes on bills relating to taxes and property rights.
- Texas Right to Life — Legislators are scored on bills related to reproductive health issues.
- Texas Values Action — Legislators are scored on their votes on social issues.
- The Freedom Index — Legislators are scored on their adherence to the limited government principles of the U.S. Constitution.
In 2024, the Texas State Legislature was either not in session or no scorecards were found. Please contact us if you would like to suggest a scorecard.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Texas State Legislature in 2023.
- Sierra Club Texas — Legislators are scored on their votes on environmental issues.
- Texans for Fiscal Responsibility — Legislators are scored based by the organization on their votes on bills relating to "core budget and free enterprise issues."
- Texans Uniting for Reform & Freedom — Legislators are scored based on their votes on bills relating to taxes and property rights.
- Texas Right to Life — Legislators are scored on bills related to reproductive health issues.
- Texas Values Action — Legislators are scored on their votes on social issues.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
- The Institute for Legislative Analysis — Legislators are scored on their adherence to the limited government principles of the U.S. Constitution.
In 2022, the Texas State Legislature was either not in session or no scorecards were found. Please contact us if you would like to suggest a scorecard.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Texas State Legislature in 2021.
- Club for Growth Foundation — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to economic issues.
- National Federation of Independent Business — Legislators are scored on their votes on small business issues.
- Sierra Club Texas — Legislators are scored on their votes on environmental issues.
- Texans for Fiscal Responsibility — Legislators are scored based by the organization on their votes on bills relating to "core budget and free enterprise issues."
- Texans Uniting for Reform & Freedom — Legislators are scored based on their votes on bills relating to taxes and property rights.
- Texas Right to Life — Legislators are scored on bills related to reproductive health issues.
- Texas Values Action — Legislators are scored on their votes on social issues.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
In 2020, the Texas State Legislature was either not in session or no scorecards were found. Please contact us if you would like to suggest a scorecard.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Texas State Legislature in 2019.
- Club for Growth Foundation — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to economic issues.
- Environment Texas — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental and public health issues.
- Texans for Fiscal Responsibility — Legislators are scored based by the organization on their votes on bills relating to "core budget and free enterprise issues."
- Texans Uniting for Reform & Freedom — Legislators are scored based on their votes on bills relating to taxes and property rights.
- Texas Eagle Forum — Legislators are scored based on votes relating to conservative issues.
- Texas Right to Life — Legislators are scored on bills related to reproductive health issues.
- Texas Values Action — Legislators are scored on their votes on social issues.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
In 2018, the Texas State Legislature was either not in session or no scorecards were found. Please contact us if you would like to suggest a scorecard.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Texas State Legislature in 2017.
- Conservative Roundtable — Legislators are scored on their votes for or against the organization's position and principles.
- Environment Texas — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental and public health issues.
- National Federation of Independent Business — Legislators are scored on their votes on small business issues.
- Sierra Club Texas — Legislators are scored on their votes on environmental issues.
- Texans for Fiscal Responsibility — Legislators are scored based by the organization on their votes on bills relating to "core budget and free enterprise issues."
- Texans for Vaccine Choice — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills supported or opposed by the organization.
- Texans Uniting for Reform & Freedom — Legislators are scored based on their votes on bills relating to taxes and property rights.
- Texas Alliance For Life — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to social issues.
- Texas Association of Business — Legislators are scored based on their votes on bills related to businesses, taxpayers, and families.
- Texas Right to Life — Legislators are scored on bills related to reproductive health issues.
- Texas Values Action — Legislators are scored on their votes on social issues.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
- Young Conservatives of Texas — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
In 2016, the Texas State Legislature was either not in session or no scorecards were found. Please contact us if you would like to suggest a scorecard.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Texas State Legislature in 2015.
- Americans for Prosperity - Texas — Legislators are scored on how they voted on tax and fiscal legislation.
- Concerned Women for America of Texas — Legislators are scored based on votes on bills relating to abortion, common core, and sex trafficking.
- Conservative Roundtable — Legislators are scored on their votes for or against the organization's position and principles.
- Environment Texas — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental and public health issues.
- Heritage Alliance — Legislators are scored based on votes on social issues, economic issues, and other issues.
- National Federation of Independent Business — Legislators are scored on their votes on small business issues.
- Texans for Fiscal Responsibility — Legislators are scored based by the organization on their votes on bills relating to "core budget and free enterprise issues."
- Texans Uniting for Reform & Freedom — Legislators are scored based on their votes on bills relating to taxes and property rights.
- Texas Association of Business — Legislators are scored based on their votes on bills related to businesses, taxpayers, and families.
- Texas Eagle Forum — Legislators are scored based on votes relating to conservative issues.
- Texas Right to Life — Legislators are scored on bills related to reproductive health issues.
- Texas Tribune — Legislators are scored on their liberal or conservative voting records by Mark P. Jones, chairman of Rice University’s political science department.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
In 2014, the Texas State Legislature was either not in session or no scorecards were found. Please contact us if you would like to suggest a scorecard.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Texas State Legislature in 2013.
- Concerned Women for America of Texas — Legislators are scored based on votes on bills relating to abortion, common core, and sex trafficking.
- Conservative Roundtable — Legislators are scored on their votes for or against the organization's position and principles.
- Equality Texas — Legislators are scored on bills related to LGBT issues.
- NARAL Pro-Choice Texas — Legislators are scored based on votes for House Bill 2.
- National Federation of Independent Business — Legislators are scored on their votes on small business issues.
- Texans for Fiscal Responsibility — Legislators are scored based by the organization on their votes on bills relating to "core budget and free enterprise issues."
- Texans Uniting for Reform & Freedom — Legislators are scored based on their votes on bills relating to taxes and property rights.
- Texas Association of Business — Legislators are scored based on their votes on bills related to businesses, taxpayers, and families.
- Texas Eagle Forum — Legislators are scored based on votes relating to conservative issues.
- Texas League of Conservation Voters — Legislators are scored based on votes relating to environment and conservation issues.
- Texas Right to Life — Legislators are scored on bills related to reproductive health issues.
- Texas Tribune — Legislators are scored on their liberal or conservative voting records by Mark P. Jones, chairman of Rice University’s political science department.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
- Young Conservatives of Texas — Legislators are scored based on their votes on conservative issues.
In 2012, the Texas State Legislature was either not in session or no scorecards were found. Please contact us if you would like to suggest a scorecard.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Texas State Legislature in 2011.
- Conservative Roundtable — Legislators are scored on their votes for or against the organization's position and principles.
- Heritage Alliance — Legislators are scored based on votes on social issues, economic issues, and other issues.
- Humane Society Legislative Fund — Legislators are scored on their votes on animal protection bills.
- Texans for Fiscal Responsibility — Legislators are scored based by the organization on their votes on bills relating to "core budget and free enterprise issues."
- Texas Eagle Forum — Legislators are scored based on votes relating to conservative issues.
- Texas League of Conservation Voters — Legislators are scored based on votes relating to environment and conservation issues.
- Texas Right to Life — Legislators are scored on bills related to reproductive health issues.
- Texas Tribune — Legislators are scored on their liberal or conservative voting records by Mark P. Jones, chairman of Rice University’s political science department.
- Texas Watch — Legislators are scored based on consumer-related bills.
- Young Conservatives of Texas — Legislators are scored based on their votes on conservative issues.
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
John and his wife, Cindy, graduated from Bellaire High School in 1973 and were married in 1978. When he retired from the Texas House of Representatives, they have four children, John Jr., Joseph, Brandon, Sherry, and a son-in-law Matthew.
See also
- State legislative elections, 2018
- Texas House of Representatives elections, 2018
- State legislative special elections, 2018
- Texas House of Representatives
- Texas State Legislature
- Texas House of Representatives Committees
- Texas Joint Committees
- Texas state legislative districts
External links
- Search Google News for this topic
- Texas Legislature website
- John Zerwas campaign website
- Profile from Open States
- Legislative profile from Project Vote Smart
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- Official Campaign Contributions-Personal
- Official Campaign Contributions-Committee
- Follow the Money, Campaign Contributions: 2012, 2010, 2008, 2006
- Texas State Directory profile
- Texas Political Almanac profile
- Texas Tribune profile & bio
- Vote-TX.org profile
- State Surge profile
- Texas Conservative Coalition profile
- John Zerwas on Facebook
Footnotes
- ↑ Project Vote Smart, "Biography," accessed May 24, 2014
- ↑ 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
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "1992 - Current ELECTION HISTORY," accessed December 2, 2014
- ↑ The Libertarian Party of Texas, "2014 Texas Representative Candidate List," accessed July 30, 2014
- ↑ Green Party of Texas, "Greens Release Candidate List," accessed July 30, 2014
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Texas Secretary of State, "1992 - Current Election History," accessed February 17, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "2008 Candidate funds," accessed May 24, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "2006 Candidate funds," accessed May 24, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by ' |
Texas House District 28 2007-2019 |
Succeeded by Gary Gates (R) |
