Gov. Greg Abbott appointed Andrea Thompson of Plano and Brett Busby of Houston to a nine-member commission set up by the Legislature this year to review and make recommendations on the repeal of certain penal laws.

Abbott named Charles Eskridge of Houston to the 11-member Timothy Cole Exoneration Commission. The panel, which was established by the Legislature this year, will review and examine exonerations since 2010 in order to make recommendations on how to avoid future wrongful convictions.

Abbott named Debbra Ulmer of Pearland to the Texas Private Security Board for a term set to expire on Jan. 31, 2019.

GOP presidential hopeful Ted Cruz announced Monday that Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick was his pick for state campaign chairman. Later the same day, Rand Paul’s presidential campaign announced that state Sen. Don Huffines, R-Dallas, will serve as the Kentucky senator's Texas state chairman.

The Latino Victory Fund named U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, to serve alongside New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and the former mayor of Los Angeles, Antonio Villaraigosa, as the fund's first three honorary co-chairs.

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas named Chad V. Seely its next general counsel last Friday. Seely has spent a decade at ERCOT, serving as assistant general counsel since 2011.

Lynn Stucky, a Denton veterinarian, announced Thursday he is entering the race for the open HD-64 seat in the Texas House. Stucky is the third candidate to enter the race for the seat held by state Rep. Myra Crownover, R-Denton, since 2000.

The Texas Alliance for Life PAC and the Texans for Life Coalition’s LIFE PAC both endorsed Justice Debra Lehrmann on Monday in her bid for re-election to the Texas Supreme Court. She has served on the court since 2010 and is facing a contested GOP primary contest. Her challenger, Michael Massengale, was endorsed Tuesday by the Texas Right to Life PAC.

Ahead of next week's election, Houston mayoral candidate Bill King announced Tuesday he has received endorsements from a number of local conservatives, including state Rep. Dennis Paul, R-Houston, former City Council member Pam Holm, Cheryl Dalton, former president of Daughters of Liberty, Deany Meinke, former president of the Texas Federation of Republican Women, and Mary Sage, former president of Magic Circle Republican Women’s Club.

GOP SD-24 candidate CJ Grisham was endorsed late last week by the Republican Liberty Caucus, a group working for limited government.

GOP SD-24 candidate Brent Mayes was endorsed late last week by the Concerned Women for America (CWA) Legislative Action Committee.

GOP HD-7 candidate David Watts was endorsed on Tuesday by Grassroots America - We the People PAC, one of the state’s most prominent grassroots conservative groups.

GOP HD-126 candidate Kevin Roberts this week won endorsements from the Concerned Women for America and the Texas Homeschool Coalition as well as a slew of conservative leaders that included Dave Welch of the Houston Area Pastor Council, Heidi Group founder Carol Everett, Jonathan Saenz of Texas Values, Cathie Adams of the Texas Eagle Forum, Mary Moss, founding member of Cy-Fair Republican Women and Claudette Martin, former president of Northwest Forest Republican Women.

GOP HD-130 candidate Tom Oliverson was endorsed Tuesday by the Texas Homeschool Coalition and Concerned Women of America.

State Rep. Debbie Riddle, R-Tomball, has won the endorsement of the Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC for re-election in HD-150.

The Texas Alliance for Life gave its "Courageous Defense of Life" awards to 14 lawmakers. They are: Sen. Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels; Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown; Rep. Byron Cook, R-Corsicana; Rep. Charlie Geren, R-Fort Worth; Rep. Todd Hunter, R-Corpus Christi; Rep. Jim Keffer, R-Eastland; Rep. Geanie Morrison, R-Victoria; Rep. Tan Parker, R-Flower Mound; Rep. Debbie Riddle, R-Spring; Rep. Drew Springer, R-Muenster; Rep. John Zerwas, R-Richmond; Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound; Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock; and Rep. Brooks Landgraf, R-Odessa.

Ray Sullivan, former chief of staff to Rick Perry and former co-chair of Perry’s presidential super PAC, will spearhead the expansion of the state-based lobbying firm Capitol Resources LLC into Texas.

David Anthony announced Wednesday that he’s stepping down as CEO of Raise Your Hands Texas in May 2016. He cited the need to spend more time with his 90-year-old father, who resides in Louisiana and is in declining health.

Disclosure: Raise Your Hand Texas is a corporate sponsor of The Texas Tribune. A complete list of Tribune donors and sponsors can be viewed here.