Nelda Luce Blair of The Woodlands was named by Gov. Rick Perry to the Texas Economic Development Corp. for a term to expire at the pleasure of the governor.

House Speaker Joe Straus was named to the 2014 Executive Committee for the Republican Legislative Campaign Committee. The group describes itself as the only national organization dedicated to building Republican majorities at the state level.

Becky Klein of Klein Energy and William Taylor of Calpine Corporation were named the first chair and vice chair of Power Across Texas (PAT), a nonprofit dedicated to energy policy issues. The 7-year-old organization has decided to name a board of directors for the first time in its history. The other members are:

• Secretary — Vicki Oswalt of Energy Future Holdings

• Treasurer — Ross Phillips of the Lower Colorado River Authority

• Members — Michele Mandell of Mandell & Associates, LLC; Marcus Pridgeon of CMC Steel Texas; and Darren Schauer of the Guadalupe Valley Electric Cooperative

Hidalgo County District Attorney René Guerra won't get the chance to be the longest-serving DA in Texas history. He lost to former state District Judge Ricardo Rodriguez, 64 percent to 36 percent. Guerra has served 32 years as DA.

Nelson Wolff won the Democratic nomination for Bexar County judge, fending off a high-profile challenge from County Commissioner Tommy Adkisson. Wolff is seeking a fourth four-year term.

Paul Simpson is the new chairman of the Harris County Republican Party. He defeated the incumbent, Jared Woodfill, in a race that gained attention for the vast resources raised by Simpson in his challenge. Simpson got 53 percent of the vote while Woodfill got 37 percent. A third candidate, Wendy McPherson Berry, received 10 percent.

Disclosure: At the time of publication, Power Across Texas was a corporate sponsor of The Texas Tribune. (See the full list of Tribune donors below $1,000 here.)