Texas Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa (D) has announced the leadership of her "By and For the People" transition team, assembling a bipartisan group of political, labor, business, and community leaders to prepare her incoming administration.
The team will work to translate Hinojosa's campaign priorities into a governing agenda focused on lowering costs for Texas families, strengthening public schools and restoring accountability in state government.
"We will have a bipartisan transition, and we will have a bipartisan administration and government in Texas," said Hinojosa.
She said the team reflects her commitment to putting money in Texans' pockets, expanding job opportunities, and building an administration that represents communities across the state.
Joseph Carlos Madden will serve as executive director. Madden brings more than two decades of experience in public, private, and nonprofit sectors, including senior leadership roles in the Texas Legislature and Harris County government. He has spent eight years helping Harris County elected officials navigate transitions into office.
Former Republican state Rep. Ernest Bailes will serve as co-chair. The fifth-generation East Texan represented House District 18 from 2017 to 2025 and is a rancher and businessman with agricultural and construction interests.
Ryan Pollock, the executive director and secretary-treasurer of the Texas State Building and Construction Trades Council, will also serve as co-chair. A licensed journeyman electrician and member of IBEW Local 520, Pollock works on workforce development, infrastructure investment, and skilled-trades policy.
Tamala Barksdale will serve as senior advisor. Barksdale is a partner and chief strategy officer at madeXus and previously served as an at-large trustee for Austin Independent School District from 2010 to 2015. During that period, she worked alongside Hinojosa on district budgeting, tax rates, and state accountability standards.
Hinojosa said additional transition announcements are expected in the coming weeks as her administration prepares to take office.
