Gov. Greg Abbott has appointed Missy Medary of Corpus Christi presiding judge of the Fifth Administrative Judicial Region for a four-year term.

Abbott has named Bobby Jenkins of Austin chairman of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Jenkins, who is president of ABC Home and Commercial Services, has served as vice chairman since September 2013.

Abbott has appointed Ramon Manning of Houston and reappointed Rodney Moore of Lufkin to the Texas Public Finance Authority for terms to expire on Feb. 1, 2021.

Abbott named J.B. Smith of Lufkin to the Texas Crime Stoppers Council for a term set to expire on Sept. 1, 2017.

René De Coss of Rancho Viejo was named by Abbott to be judge of the 445th Judicial District Court in Cameron County for a term set to expire at the 2016 general election.

Spotted: Former Republican Party of Texas Chairwoman Tina Benkiser is one of 57 new additions to Ted Cruz's leadership team in Tennessee where she currently sits on that state's GOP State Executive Committee. She helmed the GOP in Texas from 2003-09.

David Porter, the chairman of the Texas Railroad Commission, has been named a co-chair of Ted Cruz's presidential campaign in Texas. Porter is the first announced co-chair of Cruz's campaign in Texas and he is expected to be joined by more co-chairs as the race goes on.

Two Republican candidates for the open HD-64 seat have officially launched their campaigns. On Sunday, Read King hosted a campaign kickoff party in Denton and criminal defense attorney Rick Hagen held a similar event earlier this month.

The Texas House Democratic Campaign Committee announced Thursday that state Rep. Cesar Blanco, D-El Paso, has been elected to serve as co-chair of the committee. State Reps. Roberto Alonzo, D-Dallas, Jessica Farrar, D-Houston, Donna Howard, D-Austin, and Justin Rodriguez, D-San Antonio, are all co-chairs.

State Rep. Scott Sanford, R-McKinney, announced Tuesday he is running for re-election to the HD-70 seat in the Texas House he has held for one session.

Cody Davis is bowing out of the HD-130 race and throwing his support behind Houston anesthesiologist Tom Oliverson. Davis’ exit leaves Kay Smith, a conservative businesswoman and vice president of the board of trustees for the Harris County Department of Education, as Oliverson’s only announced opponent.

Corresponding with this week's start of early voting, Bill King announced Tuesday the support of state Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, and Houston city council member Oliver Pennington for his run for Houston mayor.

Dallas County Commissioner Mike Cantrell and former commissioners Maurine Dickey and Jim Jackson have endorsed former state Rep. Bennett Ratliff in his bid for the HD-115 seat in the Texas House. Ratliff is running against state Rep. Matt Rinaldi, R-Irving, who defeated Ratliff in last year’s party primary.

The East Texas Police Chiefs Association, the regional affiliate of the Texas Police Chiefs Association that covers Senate District 1, is endorsing Mineola Republican Bryan Hughes for the office.

Texans for Fiscal Responsibility announced Friday their endorsement of Houston anesthesiologist Tom Oliverson, a candidate for the open House District 130 seat being vacated by state Rep. Allen Fletcher, R-Cypress.

The Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC has endorsed freshman state Rep. DeWayne Burns in his bid for re-election to the Texas House representing HD-58 in Johnson County.

Michele Samuelson is endorsing Dawn Buckingham in the GOP primary for the open Senate District 24 seat. Samuelson is a board member of the Texas Federation of Republican Women and also currently serves as secretary for the Travis County Republican Party.

Jeff Judson, who is challenging Speaker Joe Straus in the Bexar County-based HD-121, announced on Thursday endorsements from Michael J. Bigley, who currently serves as president of the Republican Club of Bexar County, and Paula Moore, who is immediate past president of the San Antonio Republican Women Club.

State Rep. Roberto Alonzo, D-Dallas, and state Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, are the recipients of legislative leadership awards from the nonpartisan advocacy group AARP Texas.

Disclosure: AARP is a corporate sponsor of The Texas Tribune. Bobby Jenkins is a major donor to the Texas Tribune. A complete list of Tribune donors and sponsors can be viewed here.