Vice President Joe Biden on Tuesday morning endorsed Pete Gallego in his campaign to reclaim the CD-23 seat. Biden wasn’t the only high-profile national Democrat this week to support Gallego’s challenge to freshman Republican Will Hurd. House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer visited San Antonio on Thursday to boost Gallego’s bid.
Republican HD-126 candidate Kevin Roberts announced on Tuesday his endorsement by the political arm of the Texas Association of Business. He is running to succeed state Rep. Patricia Harless, R-Spring, who opted not to run for re-election this year.
Miranda Goodsheller has departed the office of state Rep. Myra Crownover, R-Denton, for a job as governmental affairs manager at the Texas Association of Business. Goodsheller was chief of staff for Crownover, who is not running for re-election this year.
Price Ashley has joined the consulting firm Imperium Public Affairs. He previously worked in the public and regulatory practice group at Winstead PC and as legislative coordinator for the Texas Association of Manufacturers.
Students for Concealed Carry announced that Brian Bensimon, who previously served as SCC director for the state of Texas, has been named the organization’s new Southwest regional director. Outgoing regional director Antonia Okafor assisted with the lead-up and implementation of SB 11, otherwise known as “campus carry,” at Texas universities.
The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) has named state Rep. Rafael Anchia, D-Dallas, the vice chair of the organization’s Labor and Economic Development Committee.
Ed Archuleta, who is largely responsible for the placement of a water desalination plant in El Paso, was given the Texas Desalination Pioneer Award by the Texas Desalination Association at its annual conference in Austin last week. Currently the director of water initiatives at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), Archuleta previously served as president and CEO of El Paso Water Utilities.
Disclosure: The University of Texas at El Paso, Texas Association of Business, the Texas Desalination Association and Patricia and Sam Harless have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune. A complete list of Tribune donors and sponsors can be viewed here.