Ted Cruz has his campaign management in place. If he runs.Possible AG candidate Ted Cruz hired John Drogin to run his campaign (which will launch if and when current AG Greg Abbott says he wants to do something else). Drogin has been doing some legislative consulting but most of his background is in politics, with U.S. Sen. John Cornyn and on the 2004 Bush reelection campaign. Jason Johnson is Cruz's general consultant; Susan Lilly is his fundraiser.

Plano Republican Florence Shapiro got three more of her colleagues in the Texas Senate to support her bid for the U.S. Senate (she's running for Kay Bailey Hutchison's seat if Hutchison quits early). Fellow Republicans Kip Averitt of Waco, Joan Huffman of Houston, and Mike Jackson of La Porte join a list that includes 17 current and former pols who serve or served with Shapiro in the Senate. Four of her current Republican colleagues haven't signed on. Another way to look at it. Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst is undeclared but signaling that he might be in the hunt to replace Hutchison in the U.S. Senate. All but four of the 19 Republicans in the Senate — over which he presides — will be with Shapiro.

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples wants four more years in that post.

A win would start his second term there and he doesn't have any announced opposition at this point. Staples, an East Texas Republican, starts the 2010 race with endorsements from the political arms of the Texas Farm Bureau and the Texas Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association.

While they were at it, the Farm Bureau's AGFUND also endorsed Comptroller Susan Combs, who announced her reelection bid a couple of weeks ago. Like Staples, she doesn't have any announced opposition.

Republicans Ted Cruz and Dan Branch each have pulled together more than $1 million to run for attorney general. Neither Cruz, the state's former solicitor general, nor Branch, a state representative from Dallas, plans to seek that job unless the current occupant, Greg Abbott, decides to quit or run for another office.Branch, limited by a state law that prevents officeholders from raising money during a legislative session, had only seven days during the first half of the year during which he could raise money. He raised $600,000 from more than 200 people, he said, bringing his cash on hand total to more than $1 million. Cruz wasn't restricted, and raised more than $1 million during the five months since he announced his interest in the job. Branch said the money will be used for his reelection bid if Abbott decides to seek reelection. Cruz said that, "in that very unlikely case," he'll leave the issue to donors, refunding the money or stashing it for a future run for office. Abbott has been considering a run for lieutenant governor next year. Current Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst plans to run for reelection, but is also considering a bid for U.S. Senate if Kay Bailey Hutchison resigns early to run for governor. Neither Branch nor Cruz released exact numbers — their reports are due next week — but Cruz released a list of financial supporters, with the names he's given each group: George Strake, Jr., Treasurer Sam Houston Circle ($10k and over) John Paul DeJoria, Austin Susanna & Michael Dokupil, Houston Windi & David Grimes, Houston Rebecca & Bryan Hardeman, Austin Jeff Hinck, Minneapolis, MN Stephanie & Gary Loveless, Houston Charline & Red McCombs, San Antonio Deborah & Patrick J. Moran, Houston Mica & Hon. Robert Mosbacher, Houston R Club PAC Tara & Adam Ross, Dallas Debi & Jim Schneider, Austin John B. Scott, Dallas Paul Singer, New York, NY David A. Spencer, San Antonio Dian Graves Stai, Abilene Peter Thiel, San Francisco, CA John Toussaint, Houston Lisa & Kenny Troutt, Dallas Julie & Michael Waldorf, New York, NY Ashley & Rad Weaver, San Antonio Modesta & Clayton Williams, Midland Stephen F. Austin Founders ($5k to $10k) Mary Katherine & Pedro Alonso, Austin Ashley & Steven Birdwell, Houston Bryan R. Bradford, Austin Gina & Tucker Bridwell, Abilene Debbie & Chuck Cooper, Washington, DC Laura & Scott Deskins, Austin Charles W. Duncan, III, Houston Anne & Brady Edwards, Houston Emily & Joe Gifford, Midland Heather Hunt Graham, Dallas David Hernandez, Boca Raton, FL Wendi & Brian Kushner, Austin Julia Jones Matthews, Abilene Robert C. McNair, Houston Christine & Shea Morenz, Houston Diane & John O’Neill, Houston Chris & Bill Peirson, Dallas Corbin J. Robertson, Jr., Houston Farouk Shami, Houston Rick Sharp, Richmond, VA Julie & Chad Sweet, New York, NY Stephen L. Tatum, Fort Worth Anne & Van Taylor, Dallas Ralph B. Thomas, Houston Kim & Dan Tutcher, Houston Graham Weston, San Antonio William Barret Travis Commanders ($2k to $5k) J. Fred Bucy, Dallas Erin & Brett Busby, Houston Don E. Childress, Houston Eugene H. Dawson, San Antonio Alan W. Dreeben, San Antonio Ralph Duggins, Fort Worth Tim Dunn, Midland Hon. Don L. Evans, Midland Heather & Elliot Goldman, Fort Worth Allyson N. Ho, Dallas Hon. Kenneth Juster, San Francisco, CA Kristy & Brad Knippa, Austin Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell, LLP PAC Beth & Greg Looser, Houston Hon. Alan M. Sager, Austin Laura & Jeff Sandefer, Austin Merrie Spaeth, Dallas David M. Underwood, Houston Hon. Tim D. Von Dohlen, Austin Bulbul Gupta & Aman Verjee, Palo Alto, CA Davy Crockett Frontiersmen ($1k to $2k) Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld PAC Randy Altschuler, Lake Grove, NY Charles E. Amato, San Antonio Penny & Hon. Ernest Angelo, Midland Jeff Boyd, Austin Helen Cullen Austin & Jeff Austin, III, Tyler Baker & Hostetler PAC Ramona Bass, Fort Worth Judy & David Beck, Houston Elisabeth & Timothy D. Belton, Bellaire Trey Blocker, Austin Michele & John Boettiger, Houston Dr. Daniel A. Bonevac, Austin Dr. Steve Brown, Aledo President George H.W. & Mrs. Barbara Bush, Houston Marline & Jack Byrd, Midland Jeffrey R. Chapman, Dallas Janet & Ernest H. Cockrell, Houston Vincent Colatriano, McLean, VA Greg L. Coleman, Austin Cristina & Stephen Cox, Washington, DC Robin & Chris Dance, Dallas John T. Delacourt, Dunn Loring, VA Hon. Grant Dorfman, Houston Vicky & Lucas T. Elliot, Houston Monica & Charles R. Eskridge, Houston Hon. José Cuevas, Midland Austen H. Furse, Houston David B. Garcia, Austin Michele & Jim Grace, Houston Frances & Evetts Haley, Jr., Midland Daniel K. Hedges, Houston Richard Jackson, Austin Shawn Stephens & Jim Jordan, Houston Hugh Rice Kelly, Houston Roger A. Key, Lubbock Thompson & Knight PAC Amelia Bullock & Bill Krumpack, Austin Jeffrey C. Kubin, Houston Amy & James H. Lee, Houston Los Elefantes del Condado de Cameron Partido Republicano, Harlingen Jimmy Mansour, Austin Richard W. Moncrief, Fort Worth S. Reed Morian, Houston Jay Nordlinger, New York, NY Becky & Malcolm Morris, Houston Porter & Hedges PAC Dr. Ion Ratiu, Austin Nina Rosenwald, NY Kay & Jay Rutherford, Fort Worth Pat R. Rutherford, Houston Manuel A. Sanchez, Houston Carson & Arthur Seeligson, Houston Joseph Smith, Denver, CO Katie & Patrick Starley, Austin Jay Stewart, Austin Venus & Bill Strawn, Austin Pamela & Hugh Tanner, Houston David Thompson, Vienna, VA Carlos Treistman, Houston Thomas O. Turner, Austin Juan Seguin Patriots ($500 to $1k) Kenneth E. Aboussie, Austin Hon. Cathie & Homer Adams, Dallas Lisa Helfman & John Adler, Houston Amir Alavi, Houston Shirley & A. K. Barton, Houston Jessica & Jimmy Blacklock, Houston Michael Bloom, Philadelphia, PA Mary Ellen & Roger B. Borgelt, Austin Kathy & George Britton, Houston Hon. Penny & John R. Butler, Houston Betsy & David Buttross, Austin Dougal Cameron, Houston Charles E. Cheever, San Antonio Sean K. Coleman, Brooklyn, NY Jordan W. Cowman, Dallas Erin & Trey Cox, Dallas Rhett Dawson, Austin Scott Delacourt, Arlington, VA David Dominy, Houston Karey & Phillip Dye, Houston Dr. Jerry Ellig, Falls Church, VA Lesha & Tom Elsenbrook, Houston Brian F. Feld, San Antonio George Fibbe, Houston Michael Fleischer, New Canaan, CT Theodore Frank, Arlington, VA Noel Fransisco, Washington, DC Heather & Todd Furniss, Dallas Darcy & Joseph Gagnon, Houston Sharin & Scott Gaille, Houston Sam & Barnett Gershen, Houston Daniel Geyser, Austin Nicole Goldstein, Chevy Chase, MD Melinda Grace, Austin James W. Gustafson, Houston Joy Hardeman, Austin Erica & Charles Harris, Houston Timothy L. Hildenbrand, Castroville Jon Jackson, Austin Murray L. Johnston, San Antonio Sam Kasparek, San Antonio Angie King, Dallas Hon. Becky Klein, Austin Dr. Robert Koons, Austin Michael Lynd, San Antonio Steven P. Mach, Houston Stephen Manz, Plano Rosario & Hon. Rafael Marquez, Round Rock Wallis Marsh, Houston Karen & James Martin, Houston Katie & Jack McConn, Houston Connelly T. McGreevy, Houston Bonnie & William F. Miller, Houston Linda & Leandro Morales, Cypress Melissa & Matthew Morris, Houston Hon. Timothy Muris, Oakton, TX Clark Neily, Arlington, VA Ryan Newman, Arlington, VA Jeff Oldham, Houston James B. O’Neill, New York, NY Matthew Osterhaus, Houston Lee Otis, Falls Church, VA Joe Owen, Dallas Jeanne & Rusty Parker, Austin Royce Poinsett, Austin Stephanie & Daniel Prescott, Dallas Dr. George M. Rapier, San Antonio Christina & Mark Rodriguez, Houston Deborah Rosenfeld, Dallas Sean Royall, Dallas Reed Runnels, Dallas Becca & Scott Schwinger, Houston Mark Silver, Chicago, IL Mary Jane Smith, Houston Thomas S. Smith, Houston Jeff Smithers, San Antonio Gwyn & Don L. Sparks, Midland Brantley Starr, Austin Katie & Aaron Streett, Houston Louis H. Stumberg, San Antonio Elizabeth Tait, Austin Mrs. Nicholas C. Taylor, Midland Tad Tellepsen, Houston Warren W. Tichenor, San Antonio Joel Thollander, Austin Gordon Todd, Alexandria, VA Bette & Jack Vexler, San Antonio Meg & Dathan Voelter, Austin Michael Watson, Dallas Stephen Wiesenfeld, Midland Margaret Wilson, Austin Jim. Windham, Houston Jim P. Wise, Humble Eva & Marvin Womack, Austin Michael Youtt, Houston Jim Bowie Brigade ($250 to $500) Frank Atkinson, Ashland, VA Mary Beth & George Barton, Midland Thomas Beck, Falls Church, VA Jennifer Bonar-Gray, Arlington, VA Chad Boudreaux, Washington, DC Shelby & Malachi Boyuls, Dallas Michelle K. Brock, Midland Dale A. Brown, Midland Hon. Sam J. Chase, Abilene Hon. Geoffrey S. Connor, Austin Erin & Trey Cox, Dallas Rafael B. Cruz, Carrollton Stephen Dartt, Austin Uttam Dhillon, Plano Frank Eaton, Odessa Ken Emanuelson, Dallas Jacob Erlich, Nahant, MA Ruben E. Esquivel, Desoto Donald Fitzgibbons, Albany Gwen & Dr. Davis Ford, Austin Rinaldo J. Gonzalez, San Antonio Kay & Lino A. Graglia, Austin Martha & Mike Grimes, Houston Michael Grodhaus, Dublin, OH Alan Gura, Alexandria, VA John Greytok, Austin Linda Halpern, Austin Erik Hawes, Houston Tammy Herrin, Dallas Meredith & Marshall Iler, Cypress Ed Ingle, Vienna, VA Eric Jaso, Morristown, NJ Adam Johnson, Dallas Bob Juba, Amarillo Jane & Randy R. Jurgensmeyer, Dallas Orin Kerr, Arlington, VA Kelly McBeth Kerr, Austin Hon. Jerry Kilgore, Glen Allen, VA Manuel Klausner, Los Angeles, CA Christopher Kratovil, Dallas Robert Kruckemeyer, Houston Steven Kupka, Washington, DC Don Langston, Lufkin Curt Levey, Washington, DC Susan Lubin, Austin Steven P. Mach, Houston John Maclay, Houston Sylivia & John Manley, Houston Stephen A. Massad, Houston Michael C. Massengale, Houston R. Bruce McLain, Fort Worth Mace Meeks, Houston Lori Singer Meyer, McLean, VA Barbara B. Moeller, Austin Susan Moore, Austin Lawrence Neuhoff, Dallas Tobin Olson, San Antonio Sandra Phillips, Houston Maggie F. Radford, Dallas Nicholas Rosenkranz, Washington, DC Ilya Shapiro, Washington, DC Hon. E. Ashley Smith, Houston Dallas L. Smith, Midland Luke Sobota, Washington, DC Durk Suringa, McLean, VA Shanna & Joel Tarver, Houston Drew B. Tipton, Humble Eugene Volokh, Pacific Palisades, CA Michael Walton, Houston Ann L. Witt, Houston Ronald W. Woliver, Houston Michael L. Woodward, Dripping Springs Mirabeau Lamar Legends (Less than $250) Cynthia & John Adkins, Houston Robert Aguirre, San Antonio Farha Ahmed, Houston David Anderson, Dallas George Antuna, Jr., San Antonio Sandra & Hon. Nelson Balido, San Antonio Suzanne Bellsnyder, Austin Joanie & Ben Bentzin, Austin Hague & Eric Bing Amanda & George P. Bush, Austin Hon. David Cabrales, Dallas Quico Canseco, San Antonio Joe Ed Cannon, Abilene Hon. Al Cardenas, Miami, FL Brian Carney, Midland Winn Carter, Jr., Houston Hon. Jacquie Chaumette, Sugarland Jo Anne Christian, Austin Greg Cizik, Houston
Hon. Doug Cole, Columbus, OH Jessica Colón, Houston Dan Corbett, San Antonio Bob Craig, Lubbock Jennifer & Patrick Davidson, San Antonio Jeremy S. Davis, Houston Lynn & Steve Davis, Austin Paul Dickerson, Houston Jeannine & Robin Donnelly, Midland Allison & Beau Egert, Houston Hon. Wade Emmert, Cedar Hill Hon. Cynthia Figueroa, Dallas Rob Finney, San Antonio Charles Flournoy, Houston Marjorie Winn Ford, Dallas Charles Foster, Houston Claudia Wilson Frost, Houston Joe Fulwiler, Austin Noe Garcia, Houston Rich Garchar, Plano Stephen Garrison, Dallas Kaye & Gary Goolsby, Katy Nancy Patterson & J. Bradley Green, Houston Darren Grubb, New York, NY Frank Guerra, San Antonio Abel Guerra, Miami, FL Clayton Hagerman, Houston Stevan Hammond, Dallas Will Hardeman, Austin Bobby Holt, Midland T. Scott Holstead, Houston Karen & Gary Jones, Austin Charles Kaplan, Dallas Gena & Harrison Keller, Austin Blair Labatt, San Antonio Kathleen & Byron LeFlore, San Antonio Dr. Jim Leininger, San Antonio Cadell Liedtke, Midland Leo Linbeck, Jr., Houston Bibi & Marino Loyola, Lewisville Joseph Manero, Houston Vidal Martinez, Houston Hon. José Montemayor, Austin Jacob Monty, Houston Walker Moody, Midland Hon. Jerry Morales, Midland Selden Morales, Washington, DC Henry Musselman, Midland Brian Newby, Fort Worth Scott O’Grady, Dallas Jan & Joe O’Neill, Midland Matt Orwig, Dallas Rolando Pablos, San Antonio Candace & Michael Partridge, Austin J.D. Pauerstein, San Antonio Larry Peterson, El Paso Margaret & James Purvis, Midland Jaime Ramón, Dallas Hon. Jack Rains, Houston Jackie & Robert Rendall, Midland Brian Roberts, Austin Dr. Dale Robinowitz, Dallas Tom Rodman, Midland Hon. Richard Roman, El Paso Raul Romero, Washington, DC Harriet Romo, San Antonio Dr. Craig Rosenfeld, Dallas Jill & Rick Salwen, Austin Monica & Marc Samuels, Austin Hon. Orlando Sanchez, Houston David Schenck, Dallas Pablo Schneider, Dallas John Schweitzer, Austin Hon. Joey Seeber, Tyler Dr. Daron Shaw, Austin Pete Slover, Dripping Springs Tom Smith, Frisco Mary Smith, Denver, CO Bertrand Sosa, Austin Beth Sturgeon, Canadian Glen Summers, Denver, CO Rice M. Tilley, Jr., Fort Worth Travis Thomas, Austin Virginia & Walter Tomlinson, Houston Hon. Michael Toner, Washington, DC Linda Traylor, Austin Tim Tuggey, San Antonio Richard Vaughan, Houston AnaPaula & Mark Watson, III, San Antonio Ellen Witt, Austin Justin Yancy, Austin Al Zapanta, Dallas Lee Zeiben, Houston

Alberto Gonzales will teach political science at Texas Tech University next fall. The former U.S. attorney general, Texas Supreme Court Justice and Texas Secretary of State will also help the school — and Angelo State University —recruit minority students.

• Rich Oppel Sr., former editor of the Austin American-Statesman, signed on with Public Strategies as a "senior advisor." He's not yet sure what all that entails, but it's a public affairs firm and he's got 46 years of newspapering behind him and they'll figure out something. His new office is right across the Colorado River from his old one.

• John Pitts Jr. changed jobs, moving to Simple Solar as VP of development from his more general lobbying for clients including renewable energy firms. He'll stay involved in the Texas Renewable Energy Association, but will spend his time building solar projects in the U.S., Canada, and in Mexico.

• Eric Johnson, who's challenging fellow Democrat Rep. Terri Hodge in Dallas' HD-100, says his campaign finance report will show contributions of $65,000.

Linda Harper-Brown, R-Irving, says she will seek reelection to a fifth term in the Texas House.Harper-Brown, first elected to the House in 2002, had the closest race of any winner last year, beating her Democratic opponent by two dozen votes after a recount and a bunch of lawyering that preceded the legislative session. Her announcement included testimonials from Tina Benkiser, chairwoman of the Republican Party of Texas; Irving City Councilman Rick Stopfer; and Michael Quinn Sullivan of Texans for Fiscal Responsibility. HD-105 is at the top of both party's lists. The Republicans want to hang on in a district that's more amenable to Democrats than any other GOP-held district in the Texas House. The Democrats, after almost winning in 2008, hope to pick it off. Democrat Loretta Haldenwang, an exec with the Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce — has said she's interested. And at least one Republican — Irving City Council member Beth Van Duyne — has also kicked the tires. The stakes there and elsewhere are high. The GOP advantage in the House is skinny: 76 to 74.

Gail Lowe, co-publisher of the Lampasas Dispatch Record, is Gov. Rick Perry's choice to head the State Board of Education. Perry's first pick for the chairman's job, Don McLeroy of College Station, didn't get past confirmation by the Texas Senate. And outside groups like the Texas Freedom Network were stirred up earlier this week at the idea that Cynthia Dunbar of Richmond might be the governor's choice. "Gail has shown exemplary leadership and commitment to the education of young Texans through her work on the State Board of Education for the past seven years, as a classroom volunteer assisting elementary school students with math and reading, and as a member of the Lampasas School District," Perry said in the press release announcing his choice. "I am confident that through her leadership, we will continue to ensure that Texans receive the educational foundation necessary to be successful in college, the workplace and beyond." Lowe, a Republican, was first elected to the SBOE in 2002 in a district that stretches from the Red River to Central Texas. She's been less of a lightning rod than McLeroy or Dunbar, but generally votes with those two and the rest of the most conservative members of the board. The TFN folks criticized Perry's choice. "It's disappointing that instead of choosing a mainstream conservative who could heal the divisions on the board, the governor once again appointed someone who repeatedly has put political agendas ahead of the education of Texas schoolchildren," said Kathy Miller, TFN's president. "Ms. Lowe has marched in lockstep with a faction of board members who believe that their personal beliefs are more important than the experience and expertise of teachers and academics who have dedicated their careers to educating our children and helping them succeed. We can only hope that she will rise above her history on the board and as chair keep fellow members from continuing to hold the education of our children hostage to divisive 'culture war' battles." Others, like the Free Market Foundation, voiced support. "Our state and our schoolchildren will benefit greatly from Mrs. Lowe's service, care, and commitment as the new State Board of Education Chair," said Jonathan Saenz, that group's legislative director. "We hope that the usual critics will rise above their religious discrimination of the past and allow Mrs. Lowe to focus on the important education issues of our state."