Gov. Greg Abbott made two appointments Tuesday to the Texas Facilities Commission. He named Robert Thomas as the commission's chairman and also appointed Patti Jones to the commission. Both appointees were named for terms to expire Jan. 31, 2021.

Nine directors have been named to the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, the Texas Department of Insurance announced on Thursday. They are: Blair Crossan of Addison, Joshua Fields of Harlingen, Michael Gerik of McGregor, R. Scott Kesner of El Paso, Ronald Lawson of Allen, Georgia Neblett of Port Aransas, Tony Schrader of Round Rock, Bryan Shofner of Lubbock and Chandra Womack of Dickinson.

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, this week named Max Schanfarber his U.S. Virgin Islands campaign chairman, furthering his efforts to shore up support in states other than Iowa, New Hampshire or South Carolina. Schanfarber serves on the GOP Executive Committee for the Virgin Islands.

Killeen Mayor Scott Cosper announced this week he is entering the race for the HD-54 seat left open after incumbent Jimmie Don Aycock's decision not to run for re-election. Austin Ruiz, a Klein optometrist, has also announced plans to run for the seat. Former state Rep. Fred Brown is also likely enter the race.

A third Republican candidate has entered the race for the open HD-126 seat in the Texas House — Klein ISD School Board President Steve Smith. Smith will face off against Kevin Roberts and Glenn Rex, who have already announced bids for the seat.

State Rep. Sarah Davis, R-West University Place, announced that she will seek a fourth term representing House District 134. Davis, in her announcement, cited her work on healthcare initiatives and limited government as reasons for re-election.

State Rep. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston, announced Wednesday he plans to seek re-election to the HD-147 seat he has held since 1991.

U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul has tapped five Texas lawmakers to serve as his re-election campaign co-chairs. The co-chairs are: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick; state Sens. Lois Kolkhorst and Paul Bettencourt; as well as state Reps. Patricia Harless and Allen Fletcher.

Bennett Ratliff, the former state representative from HD-115 running to regain his House seat, has received endorsements from two current and four former mayors in the district – Coppell Mayor Karen Hunt, Farmers Branch Mayor Bob Phelps, former mayor of Farmers Branch Bill Binford, former mayor of Carrollton Becky Miller and former mayors of Coppell, Candy Sheehan and Doug Stover.

Michael Massengale has received an endorsement from TEXPAC, the political arm of the Texas Medical Association, in his run for a seat on the Texas Supreme Court. He is challenging the incumbent, Debra Lehrmann, who was appointed and then elected to the court in 2010.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC is supporting John Lujan in the special election to select the new representative for the Bexar County-based HD-118. Lujan, a Republican, is hoping to take the seat most recently held by Democrat Joe Farias, who resigned in August. Lujan is one of six candidates in the race.

Five Tarrant County officials — County Commissioners Gary Fickes and Andy Nguyen, District Attorney Sharen Wilson, District Clerk Tom Wilder and Tax Assessor Ron Wright — endorsed on Thursday state Rep. Jonathan Stickland, R-Bedford in his bid for re-election to his HD-92 seat. Earlier this week, Stickland drew a challenger in the GOP primary, Bedford pastor and former Texas Youth Commission Chairman Scott Fisher.

Houston mayoral candidate Bill King announced late last week an endorsement from the Texas Conservative View PAC, which describes its members as “Houston women whose dedication to limited government and freedom issues brought us together.” The PAC's directors are: Sheryl Berg, Windi Grimes, Rosi Hernandez, Kelly Horsley, Robin Lennon and Mary Jane Smith.

Wes Riddle, a former congressional candidate and founder of the Central Texas Tea Party, is endorsing Dawn Buckingham in the open SD-24 race.

The Texas Criminal Justice Coalition on Thursday named Leah Pinney the group’s new executive director. She had previously served as the organization's finance and operations director. Molly Totman, previously the organization’s grants manager and senior editor, was named deputy director.

D.C.-based communications firm LEVICK announced this week the acquisition of MACH 1 Group as it opens its Texas office in Austin. MACH 1 Group founder and CEO Katherine McLane will transition to LEVICK with the title of senior vice president. Frank Ward, who was MACH 1’s director of client services, will now serve as vice president at LEVICK. Alyssa Wright has also been brought on as account executive.

Former state Comptroller senior adviser Liz White announced that she’s joining her husband, David, on a new venture, Public Blueprint.

Disclosure: The Texas Medical Association is a corporate sponsor of The Texas Tribune. Windi Grimes was a major donor to The Texas Tribune in 2012-13. A complete list of Tribune donors and sponsors can be viewed here.