Texas Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa announced four members of her transition leadership team Thursday, including a former Republican state lawmaker, a construction union leader, a former Harris County government official and a former Austin ISD trustee.
The group will lead Hinojosa’s “By and For the People” transition, preparing her incoming administration to take office in January following her victory over Republican Gov. Greg Abbott.
Hinojosa said the team will help turn her campaign priorities, including lowering costs for Texas families, strengthening public schools and improving government accountability, into a governing agenda.
“We will have a bipartisan transition, and we will have a bipartisan administration and government in Texas,” Hinojosa said during Thursday’s news conference.
Here’s a closer look at the four people leading the transition.
Houston native Joe Madden will serve as executive director of Hinojosa’s transition team, bringing more than two decades of government and public policy experience to the role.
Madden previously served as director of public policy for Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis and has spent the past eight years working with Harris County elected officials, including helping incoming leaders transition into office.
His experience includes senior roles in the Texas Legislature and Harris County government, legislative policy work, emergency response coordination and government operations.
During Thursday’s news conference, Madden said he began his career in government at 18, working in the Texas House while attending the University of Texas at Austin.
“I’ve worked in and around government for 23 years,” Madden said.
He also described his experience managing government responses to emergencies, including floods, fires, explosions and the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as overseeing a multibillion-dollar budget.
Hinojosa highlighted Madden’s experience with emergency management and government transitions in Harris County.
Ernest Bailes is a former Republican state representative who served four consecutive terms in the Texas House from 2017 to 2025, representing House District 18 in Southeast Texas.
A fifth-generation East Texan, Bailes grew up working on his family’s dairy and beef cattle operation in Shepherd.
He graduated from Texas A&M University in 2004 and founded Repro Select, an agricultural services business specializing in reproductive technologies for cattle and deer producers. In 2025, he established EB4 Construction, expanding into residential and commercial construction and real estate development.
His inclusion is notable because Hinojosa, a Democrat, has pledged to work across party lines as governor.
Bailes described himself Thursday as a conservative Republican but said he was committed to working with the incoming administration.
“We will put partisanship aside,” Bailes said. “We will work together for what is best for the kids of the state of Texas.”
Hinojosa said she and Bailes worked closely together on public education issues while serving in the Legislature.
“I count him as one of my best allies for public schools,” Hinojosa said.
Ryan Pollock is the executive director and secretary-treasurer of the Texas State Building and Construction Trades Council, an organization representing affiliated construction unions across Texas.
A sixth-generation Texan, Pollock is a licensed journeyman electrician and member of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 520 in Austin.
His work with the council focuses on workforce development, infrastructure investment, apprenticeship programs and policies affecting skilled construction workers.
Pollock also works with labor organizations, government officials and industry representatives on agreements intended to create jobs and expand training opportunities.
During Thursday’s news conference, Pollock emphasized the importance of workforce training, workplace safety and wages.
“This is about an economy that works for all Texans,” Pollock said.
Hinojosa said Pollock’s inclusion reflects her focus on creating economic opportunities for working Texans.
Tamala Barksdale is a former Austin Independent School District trustee who previously served alongside Hinojosa on the district’s school board.
Barksdale served as an at-large trustee from 2010 to 2015. During that time, she and Hinojosa worked together on district finances, including balancing the budget, reducing the tax rate and meeting state accountability standards.
She currently serves as a partner and chief strategy officer at madeXus, a creative and branding firm, where she helps clients develop business strategies and understand their audiences.
Her public service experience also includes Austin’s School Health Advisory Council and a joint committee involving the City of Austin, Austin ISD and Travis County.
Barksdale introduced Hinojosa at Thursday’s news conference, recalling their time working together on the school board.
“Gina was brave, brilliant, commanding and full of heart,” Barksdale said.
Hinojosa described Barksdale as an ally in supporting public education and said she was pleased to have her involved in the transition.
Hinojosa said planning for the transition had been underway for months and that additional leadership appointments would be announced in the coming weeks.
She said Texans would also have opportunities to submit ideas and résumés as the incoming administration takes shape.
Asked why she was prioritizing a bipartisan transition following Democrats’ election victories, Hinojosa said she wanted an administration that represented all Texans.
“I’m not going to be the governor for just Democrats,” Hinojosa said. “I am going to be the governor for all the people of Texas.”
Hinojosa also confirmed Thursday that she had spoken with Abbott since the election and that their teams remained in communication.
She said Abbott had pledged to cooperate with the transition to ensure a smooth transfer of power.
Hinojosa is scheduled to take office Jan. 19, 2027.
