Political People and their Moves

Texans for Fiscal Responsibility announced on Monday its endorsement of Ted Cruz for president.

One of the Republican challengers to House Rules Chairman Pete Sessions, R-Dallas, in the CD-32 primary election is touting a big get from grassroots conservative group Citizens United. The group’s affiliated PAC announced its endorsement of Russ Ramsland and gave $2,500 to the challenger’s campaign.

GOP Railroad Commission candidate John Greytok announced late last week that he has the backing of Rhonda Lacy, a conservative activist in Midland and State Republican Executive Committee member.

Weston Martinez, a Republican running for Texas Railroad Commission, unveiled a new set of endorsements Monday — a list of various conservative activists from around the state. The endorsements include three State Republican Executive Committee members: Tanya RobertsonMark Ramsey and Janet Jackson.

Former Democratic state Rep. Lon Burnam of Fort Worth unveiled a slew of new endorsements for his bid for the Railroad Commission, including: the Texas Coalition of Black Democrats (executive committee), Houston GLBT Political Caucus, Harris County Young Democrats and the Muslim Democratic Caucus of Texas.

Former Gov. Rick Perry has issued another primary endorsement for the Texas Supreme Court — this time, for Justice Michael Massengale, who is challenging incumbent Justice Debra Lehrmann to be the Republican nominee for Place 3.

The Texas Civil Justice League PAC announced it is backing all three incumbents running for re-election to the Texas Supreme Court. Debra Lehrmann, Paul Green and Eva Guzman have all drawn opponents in the March 1 party primaries. That has led to some degree of worry that a surprise could happen in one or more of these races, which typically generate little publicity.

The tandem of Jared Woodfill and Cathie Adams, who are running for chair and vice chair of the Republican Party of Texas, touted on Monday an endorsement from Eagle Forum founder Phyllis Schlafly.

Republican SD-1 candidate Bryan Hughes on Tuesday announced a set of endorsements from public safety groups, highlighted by nods from the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas (CLEAT), the Texas Municipal Police Association, the East Texas Police Chiefs Association and the DPS Officers Association PAC.

HD-2 state Rep. Dan Flynn was busy on the endorsement front this week, announcing backing from former state Rep. Suzanna Hupp, the Texas Municipal Police Association, the Austin Firefighter's Relief and Retirement Fund and the Austin Firefighters Association.

Blake Rocap, who is one of the Democratic hopefuls running for the open HD-49 seat in Austin, announced on Monday endorsements from five prominent abortion rights supporters: Sarah Weddington, Heather Busby, Susan Hays, Rita Lucido and Amy Hagstrom Miller.

One of Rocap’s HD-49 rivals, Huey Rey Fischer, said on Monday that he has the endorsement of the University Democrats, emphasizing his youth while doing so.

The Austin Firefighter's Relief and Retirement Fund and the Austin Firefighters Association announced on Thursday their endorsement of state Rep. Doug Miller, R-New Braunfels, for re-election the to Central Texas HD-73 seat.

The Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC announced on Friday an endorsement of state Rep. John Frullo, R-Lubbock, in his bid for re-election in HD-84.

GOP HD-92 challenger Scott Fisher said on Monday that he has the backing of the Bedford Municipal Police Association. Fisher is trying to unseat incumbent Jonathan Stickland in the Tarrant County-based House district.

HD-126 GOP candidate Kevin Roberts announced endorsements this week from the political arm of the Texas Medical Association, the Texas Conservative View PAC and the Texas Alliance for Life PAC, the U.S. Anesthesia Partners of Texas PAC and the Texas Society of Anesthesiologists, P.O.L.I.C.E. Inc. and the Houston Association of Realtors.

HD-127 state Rep. Dan Huberty announced endorsements this week from the National Rifle Association’s Political Victory Fund, the Texas Municipal Police Association, the Houston Realty Business Coalition and Conservative Republicans of Texas.

HD-130 GOP hopeful Tom Oliverson touted on Thursday endorsements from the Houston Realty Business Coalition and the Houston Association of Realtors.

John Tintera, former executive director at the Texas Railroad Commission, has a new gig with the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers. Tintera, a consultant with the industry group since 2012, was named executive vice president for government relations. The group also appointed Gloria Leal as its general counsel and Bill Stevens as chief lobbyists.

The Texas Civil Rights Project introduced on Tuesday Mimi Marziani as the group’s new executive director. Marziani succeeds Jim Harrington, who is stepping down 25 years after founding the group. She most recently served as legal director for Battleground Texas and prior to that was counsel for the Democracy Program at the Brennan Center for Justice at the New York University School of Law.

Jackson Walker LLP has added to its Austin office, hiring Denise Rose as a governmental affairs consultant working in the firm’s health care and legislative practices. She most recently was assistant vice president for legislative affairs for Texas A&M Health Science Center. She worked previously for the Texas Hospital Association and Texas Children’s Hospital.

Richard Evans, currently president of Texas Lobby Solutions, is going in-house with AstraZeneca as Director of State Government Affairs covering Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas and Missouri.

Deaths: Michael Brick, 41, who reported for The New York Times, Esquire and, most recently, reported on the impact of the shale oil boom for the Houston Chronicle. He also mentored student journalists as adviser to the Daily Texan at the University of Texas at Austin.

Disclosure: The Texas Medical Association, the Texas Hospital Association, the Texas Children's Hospital, the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers, the University of Texas at Austin and the Houston Association of Realtors are corporate sponsors of the Texas Tribune. A complete list of Tribune donors and sponsors can be viewed here.