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Railroad Commission Chairman David Porter.

Longtime Republican activist, attorney and lobbyist John Greytok will challenge Texas Railroad Commissioner David Porter in next year’s GOP primary, he said Monday. It’s the first big contest for Greytok, though he’s been a precinct chair and helped in his mother Marta’s 1994 race for land commissioner against incumbent Garry Mauro (in which she held Mauro to 50.19 percent).

He’ll be assisted in this by consultants Trey Newton, Casey Pipes, and Kendra Tidwell; Vanessa Cortez will be campaign manager. Greytok says the incumbent has not been good for “the commission, the industry or the party.”

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Former state Rep. Hugh Shine is challenging incumbent state Rep. Molly White, R-Belton, to represent her Bell County-based House District 55 seat.

Shine, who represented Bell County’s House District 53 during the 1987 and 1989 sessions, will attend a meet-in-greet Oct. 20 at the Austin Club to promote and raise money for his campaign.

The list of hosts for the event includes prominent GOP donor Drayton McLane along with a who’s who of lobby mainstays, including Mike Toomey, Buddy Jones, Rusty Kelley, James Mathis, Stan Schlueter, Mark Vane and Bill Messer.

For all you history buffs, Messer was the man who represented HD-53 before Shine.

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A third contender has emerged in the House District 130 race — Kay Smith, a conservative businesswoman and vice president of the board for the Harris County Department of Education. She joins Cody Davis, a veteran who later worked for the Senate Conservative Fund, and anesthesiologist Tom Oliverson, in the GOP primary contest for the safely Republican seat.

Smith has scheduled a Nov. 8 fundraiser in Cypress for her campaign.

They are all looking to take over for state Rep. Allen Fletcher, who announced he would not run for re-election earlier this year.

*****

Jim Landtroop may be getting back into politics.

The former state representative from Plainview designated a campaign treasurer in a filing with the Texas Ethics Commission on Oct. 2, suggesting an interest in a run for the Lubbock County-based House District 84.

Landtroop previously held the seat in House District 85, which sprawled across 16 counties in West Texas, but lost the spot after his district was stripped in redistricting. If he were to run, Landtroop would challenge John Frullo, R-Lubbock, whose district is contained entirely within Lubbock County.

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Former State Board of Education member Terri Leo announced Tuesday she will no longer be running for the House District 150 seat. Leo first announced her candidacy in September, citing a desire to have a “true conservative” in the seat long held by Rep. Debbie Riddle, R-Tomball. Riddle, who has held the seat since 2002, is seeking re-election.

In a post on her Facebook page, Leo said she found out she would have to leave her job as a school counselor in order to serve in the Legislature.

Disclosure: Rusty Kelley is a major donor to The Texas Tribune. A complete list of Tribune donors and sponsors can be viewed here.

Enlarge Screenshot/CNN News

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz at the CNN Presidential Debate in Simi Valley, California on Sept. 16, 2015.

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz’s presidential campaign reached the $1 million mark after nine days of fundraising in the fourth quarter. The money comes from about 20,000 donations, which the campaign said came mainly through contributions of $50 or less.

This latest wave of donations comes on the heels of last week’s announcement that the candidate had raised more than $12 million in third quarter fundraising — $1 million of which was raised in the final 24 hours of that reporting period.

It also brings Cruz's overall fundraising total to more than $27.5 million.

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Cruz on Wednesday predictably panned the first Democratic presidential debate, calling it an “audition for who would wear the jackboot most vigorously” and continue the oppressive policies of President Barack Obama.

During a stop here for his presidential campaign, the White House hopeful admitted he did not watch the debate late Tuesday — he was holding a meet and greet elsewhere in Iowa at the time — but said he was not surprised to hear there was little disagreement among the candidates.

“I have to admit, from everything I’ve seen of it, it really was a competition to see – you know, apparently there still are some rights in the Bill of Rights they haven’t violated yet,” Cruz told a crowd of over 100 in this small southeast Iowa city. “And it was more socialism, more pacifism, more weakness and less Constitution.”

“It’s a recipe to destroy a country,” he added.

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In Rick Perry staffer diaspora news, a former top policy hand to the erstwhile presidential candidate is now advising U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida in his bid for the White House.

Avik Roy, who was serving as a senior policy adviser to the former governor before he dropped out of the race last month, announced Monday he was working with Rubio. “No candidate expresses — and embodies — the American dream better than” Rubio, Roy tweeted.

Roy is the latest Perry ally to join a once-rival GOP campaign since the former governor left the 2016 contest in September amid fundraising struggles. So far, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush’s campaign has been the biggest recipient of the operatives who worked on Perry’s presidential effort.

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Lubbock Mayor Glen Robertson announced Tuesday he plans to run for the open District 19 seat in the U.S. Congress. He will host a formal campaign kick-off in Lubbock on Oct. 26, according to a press release.

"Today I am announcing my campaign for Congress in Texas’ 19th District," Robertson said in a statement. "Should I have the honor and privilege of serving in Congress, my number one priority will be putting the interests of West Texas and the Big County first."

U.S. Rep. Randy Neugebauer, R-Lubbock, announced last month he would not seek re-election to the seat he has held for 12 years. A number of candidates have already announced plans to run for the seat.

Enlarge Bob Daemmrich

Gov. Rick Perry addresses the media following his court hearing on Nov. 6, 2014. At far left is attorney Tony Buzbee.

Texas' highest criminal court has rescheduled oral arguments in the abuse-of-power case against former Gov. Rick Perry.

The state's Court of Criminal Appeals originally set Nov. 4 as the date on which it would hear oral arguments in its review of a lower court's decision to dismiss one of two charges against Perry. Both the former governor and State Prosecuting Attorney Lisa McMinn are challenging the ruling.

David Botsford, Perry's top lawyer handling the appeal, asked the court Thursday to move the date, indicating it conflicted with a prepaid trip to Italy with his wife. A day later, the court granted Botsford's request and rescheduled oral arguments for Nov. 14.

Perry was indicted in August of last year. He was accused of overstepping his authority in threatening to slash state funding for a unit in the office of Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg, who refused to step down following a drunk-driving arrest.

*****

December is setting up as a big month for Texas in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments in a couple of Texas-generated cases — Evenwel v. Abbott and Fisher v. University of Texas — guaranteed to grab headlines.

The court will take up oral arguments in Evenwel on Dec. 8. The case tackles the question of whether Texas should use total population or eligible voters when crafting districts.

Fisher’s case, which will have its arguments heard on Dec. 9, challenges UT’s admissions policy.

*****

Asked about his proudest accomplishments during his three-year tenure, outgoing Texas Education Commissioner Michael Williams noted that morale has improved at the Texas Education Agency.

“The agency had been beaten on, criticized by stakeholders from all sides,” Williams told The Texas Tribune. Now, “my staff feels good about themselves and they feel good about the work they do.”

Williams also said the agency is underfunded, with more than one-third fewer full-time employees than it had five years ago.

“There is no doubt that the agency is pushed to do a whole lot more with not enough,” he said.

Williams informed Gov. Greg Abbott on Thursday that he would step down from his post, effective Jan. 1.

In an interview, Williams also touted changes made to the state’s accountability system during his tenure. Asked about something he wished he had gotten done, he cited ongoing discussions with the federal government over the state’s No Child Left Behind waiver.

"I would hope that we could complete the conversation with the national government with regards to the waiver and impress upon them that there ought to be more than one way to assess student growth and that student tests … should not be the only way that we measure” it, he told the Tribune.

*****

State Sen. Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo, was uninjured in an accident Monday afternoon at Dallas Love Field when his plane ran into a fence, according to his spokesperson Becky Womack. The senator was alone on the plane at the time.

Womack said Seliger did not suffer any injuries and the incident occurred in a “non-movement area” at the airfield.

"Thanks for the calls," Seliger tweeted after the incident. "Everything is fine."

In April, the senator was in a motorcycle accident in Austin and underwent elbow and ankle surgery.

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For this week’s nonscientific survey of insiders in government and politics, we asked about lawmakers' invocation of God and religion during this year's legislative session.

Lawmakers' religious beliefs and how those beliefs played out in policy debates on guns, abortion, same-sex marriage and other issues was the animating force for the Tribune's "God & Governing" series that kicked off last week. So this week we decided to quiz the insiders on how they viewed the role of religion in the Capitol.

Seven in 10 thought God and religion was invoked too much in the 84th session with another quarter saying the mentions of God and religion were about right. Nearly two-thirds of the insiders believed mentions of the divine were more frequent than in past legislative sessions. Another 30 percent thought the God talk was in line with previous sessions.

Three of five insiders did not think a non-Christian could win a statewide election in Texas and another 56 percent thought separation of church and state will become an issue in the upcoming elections.

We collected comments along the way, and a full set of those is attached. Here’s a sampling:

Enlarge Emily Albracht

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What’s your take on lawmakers’ use of God and religion during public policy debate in the 84th legislative session?

• "Being human, they are by definition not qualified to speak authoritatively about a higher being's motives regarding state legislation."

• "Voters elect men and women to hold to the original intent of our Founding Fathers. They were God-fearing men."

• "I think some did a lot and some none. On balance, they were representative of the current population of Texas."

• "When you use God to justify campus carry, you know you're reaching."

• "God and religion aren't used too much — they are misused too much. Living a life of faith is a daunting challenge requiring much thought and prayer. Sometimes our politicians can be heard talking loudly about their faith as if the answer's clear and simple. When you consider some of the difficult challenges Texas is facing, more prayer is probably in order."

Enlarge Emily Albracht

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Compared to sessions past, invocations of God and religion this session were…

• "Seemed more frequent, but it could be just louder from a small minority."

• "Voters are making their voices heard."

• "The voters have spit out many of the lukewarm members of the Legislature (Rev 3:16) and those remaining have been speaking boldly (Acts 4:31)."

• "If the members feel the need for supernatural guidance, let them pray in private. They are here to conduct the state's business, not attend a tent revival."

• "It's always been there."

Enlarge Emily Albracht

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Could a non-Christian win a statewide election in Texas?

• "If he or she made an issue of being agnostic, no."

• "Some may have already won. We can hear a pol's words but we truly don't know their minds and hearts."

• "Every Texan understands that we're in dire need of help to save our nation. We're not interested in those who think they can 'go it alone.'"

• "Not currently. Even Joe Straus has faced issues about being 'Jewish' from his own legislators and outside forces. Until more progressive thinkers decide to increase their voting patterns, it will be tough for non-Christian candidates. Have you all evaluated Perry/Abbott appointees to see if they are non-Christian? That would be interesting."

• "Not unless he was a star athlete responsible for some major championship!"

Enlarge Emily Albracht

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Do you expect efforts to erase the wall of separation between church and state to come up as a campaign issue in 2016?

• "It is a great campaign issue for Republicans. Democrats have no idea how to respond."

• "That would be shadow boxing because there is no wall. The Founders intended the government to stay OUT of the business of the churches and synagogues. The First Amendment is just as relevant today as it was when it was written."

• "Yes. But most of the country believes in freedom of religion. It will likely hurt those that make it an issue, except in the Bible Belt. You didn't ask about 2017 but was stunned that with all the issues Texas is facing, Patrick issued an interim study on Religious Freedom. Really?"

• "Yes, but obliquely. No one will openly admit to opposing the separation of church and state, but some will take actions that comport with having more God in the Capitol."

• "Not sure what this 'wall of separation' is. Those who are uncomfortable with the freedom of religious expression might think about becoming more tolerant."

Our thanks to this week's participants: Gene Acuna, Cathie Adams, Clyde Alexander, George Allen, Jay Arnold, Charles Bailey, Andrew Biar, Allen Blakemore, Tom Blanton, Chris Britton, Raif Calvert, Lydia Camarillo, Snapper Carr, Elna Christopher, Harold Cook, Kevin Cooper, Randy Cubriel, Beth Cubriel, Denise Davis, June Deadrick, Glenn Deshields, Tom Duffy, David Dunn, Richard Dyer, Dominic Giarratani, Bruce Gibson, Kinnan Golemon, Daniel Gonzalez, Clint Hackney, Bill Hammond, Ken Hodges, Steve Holzheauser, Kathy Hutto, Deborah Ingersoll, Jason Johnson, Mark Jones, Robert Kepple, Richard Khouri, Tom Kleinworth, Dale Laine, Nick Lampson, Pete Laney, James LeBas, Luke Legate, Matt Mackowiak, Steve Minick, Bee Moorhead, Mike Moses, Todd Olsen, Nef Partida, Gardner Pate, Robert Peeler, Jerry Philips, Tom Phillips, Wayne Pierce, Richard Pineda, Allen Place, Gary Polland, Jay Propes, Ted Melina Raab, Patrick Reinhart, David Reynolds, A.J. Rodriguez, Kim Ross, Grant Ruckel, Tyler Ruud, Jason Sabo, Jim Sartwelle, Barbara Schlief, Stan Schlueter, Robert Scott, Steve Scurlock, Christopher Shields, Nancy Sims, Ed Small, Martha Smiley, Mark Smith, Larry Soward, Dennis Speight, Colin Strother, Sherry Sylvester, Sara Tays, Trey Trainor, Vicki Truitt, David White, Darren Whitehurst, Seth Winick, Angelo Zottarelli.

Enlarge Todd Wiseman

Friday, Oct. 16

• The Texas Tribune Festival; various locations on the University of Texas at Austin campus, Austin (Oct. 16-18)
• House District 115 candidate Bennett Ratliff fundraiser; 110 E. Ninth St., Austin (8:30-10:30 a.m.)
• McLennan County Republican Club monthly meeting with speaker U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Dallas; 100 Texas Ranger Trail, Waco (11:30 a.m.)
• State Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio, fundraiser; 1003 Rio Grande St., Austin (4-5:30 p.m.)

Sunday, Oct. 18

• State Sen. Don Huffines, R-Dallas, Annual Free Fish Fry; 7801 Hillcrest Ave, Dallas (12-3 p.m.)

Monday, Oct. 19

• State Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr., D-Brownsville, Texas Legends Golf Tournament benefiting the Eddie Lucio scholarship fund; 4300 Manor Road, Austin (8 a.m.-2 p.m.)

Tuesday, Oct. 20

• House District 55 candidate Hugh Shine fundraiser; 110 E. Ninth St., Austin (4-5:30 p.m.)
• State Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, fundraiser; 2002 W. Gray St., Houston (5-7 p.m.)
• Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar fundraiser; 10430 Strait Lane, Dallas (5:30-7 p.m.)
• GOP presidential candidate John Kasich fundraiser; 10140 Gaywood Road, Dallas (5:30 p.m.)

Wednesday, Oct. 21

• State Rep. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston, fundraiser; 110 E. Ninth St., Austin (11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.)
• State Rep. Mark Keough, R-The Woodlands, fundraiser; 110 E. Ninth St., Austin (4-6 p.m.)

Thursday, Oct. 22

• State Rep. Cecil Bell Jr., R-Magnolia, fundraiser; 110 E. Ninth St., Austin (4:30-6 p.m.)
• State Rep. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston, fundraiser; 1513 W Alabama St, Houston (5-6:30 p.m.)

The private firm trying to build a bullet train between Dallas and Houston has released a study claiming it would pump more than $30 billion into the state economy over the next 25 years. 

State health officials appear to have taken up Republicans’ ongoing fight against Planned Parenthood by adopting guidelines that prohibit abortion-affiliated groups from getting state contracts to run abstinence education programs.

Nearly a year after the San Antonio City Council unanimously approved what could be the most expensive water project in the region's history, some council members appear to be having doubts.

Former U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk said Wednesday he still supports Hillary Clinton, who lauded the Trans-Pacific Partnership he helped negotiate during her tenure as secretary of state but has more recently opposed it.

After hearing oral arguments Wednesday, the Texas Supreme Court will consider whether a provision in oil-and-gas law that protects landowners who don’t own the minerals beneath their property should also apply to those who don’t own the groundwater.

The U.S. armed forces should not serve as a "cauldron for social experiments, " said Ted Cruz in Iowa, expressing skepticism about the military's move to end a ban on transgender soldiers.

In his first certified revenue estimate, Comptroller Glenn Hegar lowered his estimate for how much revenue the state will take in by more than $2 billion, pointing to reduced activity in oil and gas drilling as the main culprit.

Seeking to fight scandal-plagued Volkswagen alone, Attorney General Ken Paxton is asking two Texas counties to halt their lawsuits against the automaker — a move highlighting friction between Texas and local governments pursuing tens of millions of dollars in court.

In a letter to Paxton on Monday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott lent his full support to the Childress Police Department, which recently came under fire for displaying the motto "In God We Trust" on its patrol vehicles.

Disclosure: Planned Parenthood was a corporate sponsor of The Texas Tribune in 2011. A complete list of Tribune donors and sponsors can be viewed here.

Gov. Greg Abbott has appointed his deputy general counsel, Don Clemmer of Austin, to the bench of the 450th Judicial District Court in Travis County.

State Sen. José Rodríguez, D-El Paso, said on Monday that he's been elected to be the next leader of the Senate Democratic Caucus. He takes over for state Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, who has held the post for the past two sessions.

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz named a number of statewide leaders for his Cruz for President African-American coalition on Thursday. The appointees include three national co-chairs — Elbert Guillory of Louisiana, Robin Armstrong of Texas and Robert Smith of Arkansas.

Jonathan Boos, a self-described conservative Republican, is challenging incumbent Cindy Burkett for the House District 113 seat in eastern Dallas County. Boos has a law background, working as an attorney in the area.

State Rep. Rafael Anchia, D-Dallas, announced Tuesday he will seek re-election to the Texas House. He has held the HD-103 seat since 2005 and is the only person who has announced plans to run for the seat thus far.

Longtime Republican activist, attorney and lobbyist John Greytok will challenge Texas Railroad Commissioner David Porter in next year’s GOP primary, he said Monday. It’s the first big contest for Greytok, though he’s been a precinct chair and helped in his mother Marta’s 1994 race for land commissioner against incumbent Garry Mauro.

Michael Massengale announced last week that he’s rounded up the support of eleven conservative state legislators for his run for the Texas Supreme Court. Massengale is challenging Debra Lehrmann, who has served since 2010, for the seat on the bench.

Kevin Roberts, a Republican candidate for the HD-126 seat in Harris County, announced Tuesday that 11 out of 19 Republican Party Precinct Chairs in the district have endorsed his bid for the seat.

Former Texas Department of Insurance attorney Marisol Saenz has joined Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP in its government affairs practice in Austin.