Donna Bahorich was named chairwoman of the Texas State Board of Education by Gov. Greg Abbott for a term to expire Feb. 1, 2017. Bahorich, who began service on the board in January 2013, represents District 6 in Harris County.

Houston appeals court judge Michael Massengale will challenge Texas Supreme Court Justice Debra Lehrmann, who confirmed this week that she is running for re-election. She joined the court in 2010.

The two announced contenders for the open Senate District 1 seat — state Reps. Bryan Hughes and David Simpson — released two big endorsement lists. The Hughes campaign announced that it has the backing of Attorney General Ken Paxton, Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, seven GOP county chairmen in the district as well as several prominent leaders among the party's conservative wing. The Simpson campaign released a list of more than 170 county precinct chairmen and activists, including former state Rep. Erwin Cain.

Former Mayor Jay Dean announced on Thursday that he plans to run for the House District 7 seat being vacated by Simpson.

State Sen. Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels, released a statement this week that she will not challenge U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith, R-San Antonio, in next year's party primary election.

House District 47 state Rep. Paul Workman, R-Austin, announced this week that he will stand for re-election. His name had been mentioned as a possible contender for the Senate District 24 seat that is now open following the decision by Horseshoe Bay Republican Troy Fraser not to seek re-election.

Three Dallas/Fort Worth-area state representatives formally announced re-election bids on Thursday: Charlie Geren, R-Fort Worth; Linda Koop, R-Dallas; and Angie Chen Button, R-Richardson.

Bastrop entrepreneur Brent Golemon is running again for House District 17, he announced Monday. In February, Golemon lost a special election for the Central Texas seat to fellow Republican John Cyrier.

The political arm of the tort reform group Texans for Lawsuit Reform announced on Tuesday that it is endorsing Tom Oliverson, who is running for the open Harris County-based House District 130.

Kevin Roberts, who is seeking the Republican nomination for the Harris County-based House District 126, announced on Tuesday the endorsements of a trio of prominent Houston-area Republicans: Steve Hotze, president of Conservative Republicans of Texas; Terry Lowry of The Link Letter; and Gary Polland of the Texas Conservative Review.

Richard Fry, Mary Louise Phelps and Scott Rewak have joined the family law practice of Austin-based law firm Ikard Wynne LLP.