Hinojosa Names Transition Leaders Ahead of January Inauguration
Hinojosa announced the first leads for her transition team on November 5, as she prepares to take office in January after defeating Republican Gov. Greg Abbott. Madden will serve as executive director. The team also includes Bailes, Pollock and former Austin school board member Tamala Barksdale.
Madden previously worked as chief of staff to Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and as an adviser on public policy to Commissioner Rodney Ellis. He said his experience includes helping officials plan transitions and build governments. He also works as a public affairs consultant.
In 2022, Madden was among Hidalgo staff members investigated over an alleged effort to direct an $11 million contract for COVID-19 vaccine outreach to a favored vendor. Three staffers, not including Madden, were indicted; the charges were later dropped.
Bailes, a Republican, represented a Southeast Texas district in the state House from 2017 to 2025. He has worked as a general contractor and project manager. Pollock is part of the Texas council representing building and construction trades, which represents construction workers.
Hinojosa said her team had spent months planning with experts. She is expected to be sworn in on January 19, 2027, bringing a close to over 30 years of Republican leadership in the governor’s office. Her stated priorities include public education, affordability and health care.
Hinojosa Builds a Transition Team for a New Texas Government
After winning the governorship and bringing a close to over 30 years of Republican leadership, Gina Hinojosa is assembling a team to prepare for a change in Texas leadership. Her November 5 announcement named Joe Madden executive director, alongside former Republican lawmaker Ernest Bailes, construction trades representative Ryan Pollock and former Austin school board member Tamala Barksdale.
Madden brings experience in county government, having served as chief of staff to Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and as an adviser on public policy to Commissioner Rodney Ellis. He said his work has included helping elected officials plan transitions and build governments. Hinojosa has identified education, affordability and health care as priorities.
The team also brings different perspectives into the transition. Pollock is affiliated with a labor organization representing construction workers, while Bailes served as a Republican in the Texas House from 2017 to 2025 before working as a contractor and project manager.
Madden was investigated in 2022 in connection with an alleged effort to direct an $11 million COVID-19 outreach contract to a preferred vendor. He was not among the three staffers indicted, and the charges against them were later dropped.
Hinojosa said her team had been planning with experts for months. She is expected to take office on January 19, 2027. The transition now sets the stage for the priorities she has promised to pursue in state government.
Hinojosa Taps Labor and Democratic County Insiders for Transition
Gina Hinojosa’s transition team is taking shape with prominent ties to organized labor and Democratic-led county government. The governor-elect named Joe Madden executive director on November 5, along with construction trades representative Ryan Pollock, former Republican state Rep. Ernest Bailes and former Austin school board member Tamala Barksdale.
Madden previously served as chief of staff to Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and as an adviser on public policy to Commissioner Rodney Ellis. Pollock belongs to a Texas labor council representing construction trades and workers. Those choices point to the people and groups who will help prepare Hinojosa’s administration.
Hinojosa has named public education, affordability and health care among her priorities. She takes office after defeating Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, in a victory that brings a close to over 30 years of Republican leadership in the governor’s office.
Madden was investigated in 2022 over an alleged attempt to direct an $11 million contract for COVID-19 vaccine outreach to a favored vendor. He was not indicted. Three other staffers were charged, but those charges were later dropped.
Hinojosa said her team had spent months planning with experts. She is expected to be sworn in on January 19, 2027, when the transition work will give way to governing.
Reported by KPRC 2 Click2Houston, Houston Public Media.
