Sen. John Cornyn (R), favored for re-election over state Rep. Rick Noriega (D), announced this week that his campaign has “team leaders” in each of the state’s 254 counties.

Meanwhile, Noriega will be absent from the stump for about two weeks while on mandatory National Guard duty. Noriega is a lieutenant colonel in the Texas Army National Guard.

While Noriega is on guard duty, the campaign is running a program called “Fill Rick’s Boots,” whereby prominent Democrats, including his wife, Houston City Councilwoman Melissa Noriega, will take his place on the campaign trail.

— David M. Drucker