First elected to the Texas Legislature in 1990, Senator John Carona is now in his fourth term in the Texas Senate, representing District 16 in Dallas County.  Previously, Senator Carona was elected to three terms in the Texas House of Representatives. 

Senator Carona has distinguished himself in the Texas Legislature as an effective leader.  Following the 2007 legislative session, The Dallas Morning News named him to their “Legislative Leaderboard,” Capitol Inside selected him as “Most Valuable Player-Texas Senate,” and Texas Monthly recognized him as one of the “Ten Best Legislators.”  Senator Carona serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Transportation and Homeland Security and as a member of the Senate Criminal Justice, Jurisprudence, and State Affairs committees.   In addition, he currently serves as President Pro Tempore of the Texas Senate and Chairman of the Joint Legislative Study Committee on Private Participation in Toll Projects.  

Senator Carona has been a resident of Dallas since early childhood.  He was educated in the Dallas Independent School District, graduating from Bryan Adams High School.  He received bachelors of business administration degrees in insurance and real estate from The University of Texas at Austin in 1978, currently serves as president of a national realty management firm, and is married and the proud father of five children.