Gov. Greg Abbott endorsed fellow Republican Nunzio Previtera in Tuesday's special runoff election in the Bexar County-based House District 123. Previtera, a State Republican Executive Committee member, faces off against a former San Antonio Councilman, Diego Bernal, in the runoff.

Lisa Craven has been named the comptroller's designee to the State Water Implementation Fund (SWIFT) advisory committee. She is currently Comptroller Glenn Hegar's chief of staff.

Trey Newton has left the General Land Office — where he was deputy commissioner and chief of staff — to return to consulting work. Newton, who was previously senior adviser to the George P. Bush campaign, said, “The reality is I was only going to be around for transition, maybe for session. This was planned all along.” What accelerated his decision, he said, “was that 2016 started early this year.”

Pamela McPeters is stepping down next week as chief of staff for state Rep. Dawnna Dukes, D-Austin, after 13 years. She is leaving to become director of public policy for the Texas Association for the Protection of Children (TexProtects). Dukes has tapped Ariane Marion to succeed McPeters as chief of staff.