The continued strength of the Tea Party was the big headline coming out of Tuesday's party primary elections. Although candidates identified with the Tea Party could not unseat U.S. Sen. John Cornyn and U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions, movement conservatives racked up many high-profile wins at the legislative level. The biggest showings came from lite guv candidate Dan Patrick and attorney general candidate Ken Paxton. They were the highest vote getters in their respective contests and are the favorites going into their runoff elections.

The two parties' gubernatorial candidates, Greg Abbott and Wendy Davis, cruised to their respective nominations, a result that was pre-ordained when they drew no opponents of substance. Davis, however, lost 26 counties to the underresourced Ray Madrigal. More than half of those losses were in South Texas, where high turnout will be key for any Democrat looking to win a statewide contest this year. Republicans seized on this as evidence that Davis is in a weakened position. Democrats, though, said Davis' vote totals in South Texas far surpassed those for Abbott and that voters in the Rio Grande Valley would rally around Davis in the fall.

Abortion provider Whole Woman's Health announced that it was closing women's clinics in McAllen and Beaumont. Since the passage of HB 2, which further regulated abortion facilities, the number of abortion clinics has fallen drastically. While there were 44 clinics three years ago, there are now 24.

A report by the Environmental Defense Fund suggested that oil and gas companies could contain projected emissions of methane by up to 40 percent by 2018 — and save money in the process. Industry representatives, though, downplayed their role in methane emissions. They argued that cow flatulence is a larger source of methane emissions than the oil and gas industry.

An investigation has begun into allegations of professional misconduct against Charles Sebesta, the former Burleson County district attorney who prosecuted death row exoneree Anthony Graves. If proven, the charge could result in his disbarment.

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.)