Michael Truncale of Beaumont was named by Gov. Greg Abbott to the Prepaid Higher Education Tuition Board for a term to expire Feb. 1, 2021. A senior partner at Orgain, Bell & Tucker LLP, Truncale ran for the open seat in CD-14 back in 2012. He finished third in the Republican primary.

Mike Morath was officially sworn in as the state’s new education commissioner on Monday, according to a statement from the Texas Education Agency. A former Dallas Independent School District trustee, Morath’s appointment was announced by Abbott on Dec. 14.

The Donald Trump campaign announced this week four staff hires for its efforts in Texas — Joshua Jones, deputy director overseeing grassroots operations; Eric Mahroum, field director for Dallas/Fort Worth and North Texas; Kayla Hensley, field director for Houston and East Texas; and Paul Janiczek, field director for central, south and west Texas.

The Montgomery County Tea Party announced Wednesday that it is endorsing Weston Martinez in the GOP primary for the open seat on the Railroad Commission.

Former Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson announced on Thursday his endorsement of Dawn Buckingham in the GOP SD-24 primary race.

The political arm of the tort reform group Texans for Lawsuit Reform announced on Wednesday that it is backing state Rep. Kyle Kacal’s re-election bid in HD-12. Kacal, R-College Station, is facing two challengers in the March 1 party primary race.

In the HD-14 GOP primary race, Texas Values Action, the advocacy arm of Texas Values, announced Wednesday that it is backing the challenger in the contest, Jess Fields. Fields, a former College Station city council member and former staffer at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, is challenging the incumbent John Raney.

The advocacy arm of the Texas Farm Bureau is endorsing Ernest Bailes in the race for the HD-18 seat being vacated by Appropriations Chairman John Otto, R-Dayton.

The Texas Association of Realtors announced that it is backing Justin Holland, himself a Realtor, for the HD-33 open seat. The seat is up for grabs following the decision by Scott Turner, R-Frisco, not to seek re-election.

Education Austin announced Monday that it is backing Gina Hinojosa in the Democratic primary to fill the open seat in House District 49. Hinojosa stepped off the Austin ISD school board where she was serving as president in order to run for the seat being vacated by Elliott Naishtat.

HD-115 incumbent Matt Rinaldi, R-Irving, said Monday that he has rounded up endorsements from 26 state legislators, including five state senators. The group includes House GOP Caucus Chairman Tan Parker, R-Flower Mound.

Outgoing state Rep. Allen Fletcher, R-Cypress, said Wednesday that he is backing Tom Oliverson in the contest to succeed him in HD-130.

The political arm of the Texas Hospital Association on Tuesday announced that it is endorsing HD-134 incumbent state Rep. Sarah Davis for the Republican primary.

Chris Newton officially began duties this week as executive vice president at the Texas Apartment Association. He most recently was president of the Texas Food and Fuel Association. He resigned from that post at year’s end.

Deaths: El Franco Lee, 66, died Sunday of an apparent heart attack. A Harris County Commissioner for 30 years, Lee also represented Houston in the Texas House for three terms from 1979-85.

Disclosure: The Texas Farm Bureau, the Texas Association of Realtors and the Texas Hospital Association are corporate sponsors of The Texas Tribune. Jerry Patterson and Elliott Naishtat are donors to The Texas Tribune. A complete list of Texas Tribune donors and sponsors can be viewed here.